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PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 


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PRESENTED  BY 

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THE.  LIFE. 


— OF — 


Rev.  David  Edwards,  D.D., 


LATE  A  BISHOP 


OF      THE 


UNITED  BRETHREN   IN  CHRIST 


BY    THE 

REV.  LEWIS  DAVIS,  D.  D. 


WITH  AN   INTRODUCTION  BV 

REV.  JAMES  W.  HOTT,  D.  D. 


THIRD     EDITION. 


DAYTON,  OHIO: 

UNITED    BRETHREN    PUBLISHING    HOUSE. 

1883. 


iSalered  acoording  to  aot  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1883, 

Bt  Ret.  W.  J.  Shoet, 

In  the  ofiSce  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  0. 


PREFACE. 


IN  presenting  the  following  memoir  to  the  Church  and  the 
reading  public  generally,  a  few  words  of  explanation  may 
— •  not  be  out  of  place.  The  writer  was  not  led  to  under- 
take the  work  through  a  desire  to  bring  himself  before  the 
public  as  an  author;  but  when  a  request  came  from  the 
highest  judicatory  of  the  Church,  together  with  the  earnest 
solicitation  of  many  of  the  friends  of  Bishop  Edwards,  the 
author  could  not  well  refuse  to  undertake  the  work. 

In  the  General  Conference  of  1877  a  paper  was  presented 
and  adopted  in  which  the  following  words  occur:  "We 
esteem  the  life  of  Bishop  D.  Edwards  as  worthy  to  be  forever 
embalmed  in  the  memory  and  history  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren in  Christ,  as  one  of  its  most  eloquent  preachers,  wisest 
counselors,  and  most  faithful  defenders  of  its  holy  and  hon- 
ored principles;  a  mighty  man  of  valor  in  the  cause  of 
Jesus,  and  a  Christian  of  the  purest  and  noblest  order — alike 
great  and  good."  Mingled  feelings  of  joy  and  sorrow  seemed 
to  fill  the  hearts  of  all  the  members  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence,— ^joy  that  he  had  passed  so  triumpliantly  from  labor  to 
reward,  but  sorrow  in  view  of  the  great  vacancy  made  in 
the  Board  of  Bishops  and  in  the  Church  at  large. 

The  feeling  had  already  become  deep  and  abiding,  not 
only  in  the  General  Conference,  but  throughout  the  Church, 

V 


VI  PREFACE. 

that  some  permanent  record  should  be  made  of  his  life  and 
labors.  In  order  to  meet  this  want  the  following  resolution 
was  passed:  "That  L.  Davis  be  requested  to  prepare  such 
manuscript  for  publication,  and  that  such  incidents  of  the  . 
life  and  labors  of  the  late  Bishop  Edwards  as  may  give  inter- 
est to  the  work  be  forwarded  to  him,  from  which  to  make 
selections." 

Scioto  Conference,  where  the  bishop  held  a  membership 
for  more  than  forty  years,  also  requested  me  to  write  hia 
biography.  The  fact,  too,  of  my  long  acquaintance  with 
the  bishop,  and  our  intimate  friendship,  was  urged  by  many 
as  a  reason  why  I  should  undertake  the  work.  I  hesitated 
for  a  time,  but  finally  yielded  to  a  request  which  seemed 
60  general  and  hearty.  Little,  however,  was  done  before 
the  meeting  of  the  General  Conference  of  1881.  At  this 
session,  on  account  of  other  pressing  duties,  T  asked  release 
from  the  work,  or  assistance  in  its  prosecution.  I  was  not 
released,  but  again  requested  to  prosecute  the  work  at  once. 
The  Book  Committee  of  the  Printing  Establishment  wa» 
directed  to  furnish  such  help  as  might  be  needed.  The  com- 
mittee appointed  Prof.  A.  W.  Drury  to  assi.st  as  I  might 
direct.  This  appointment  was  very  fortunate.  The  pro- 
fessor devoted  over  two  months  during  the  past  summer  in 
collecting  and  arranging  materials  for  the  work,  which  have 
been  of  great  service  to  the  author.  But  for  this  invaluable 
help  the  work  would  not  now  be  ready  for  the  press.  Others, 
too  numerous  to  mention,  by  furnishing  valuable  suggestion* 
and  incidents,  have  contributed  no  little  in  helping  the 
work  forward. 

The  author  has  had  free  access  to  the  bishop's  diary  and 
many  of  his  private  letters,  written  to  dear  and  intimate 
friends.  Files  of  the  Religious  Telescope  and  the  proceed- 
ings of  General  and  annual  conferences  have  also  been  freely 


PREFACE.  Vli 

consulted.  The  object  has  been  to  let  Bishop  Edwards 
Bpeak  for  himself.  In  this  way  the  reader  can  see  the  man 
as  he  was.  We  want  to  know  as  much  as  possible  of  his 
modes  of  thinking,  the  struggles  of  his  heart,  his  practical 
way  of  overcoming  sin  and  Satan,  his  life-long  battle  with 
the  ever-varying  forms  of  unbelief  and  human  weakness,  and, 
above  all,  the  secret  of  that  power  by  which  he  so  gloriously 
wrought  for  the  Master.  It  is  hoped  that  his  rich  endow- 
ments and  varied  attainments  have  not  been  overstated.  The 
aim  has  been  to  be  true  to  the  facts. 

What  the  reader  may  think  of  this  unpretending  memoir 
I  know  not.  But  this  I  know,  that  in  telling  the  story  of 
his  life — its  struggles  and  triumphs — my  own  heart  has  been 
made  stronger  for  life's  battles.  I  have  not  done  all  that  I 
wished — but  what  I  could.  And  now  nothing  remains  but 
for  me  to  send  forth  this  volume,  with  a  prayer  that  the 
blessing  of  God  may  attend  it,  and  that  it  may  have  the 
charitable  judgment  of  the  Church. 

LEWIS  DAVIS. 

Datton,  Ohio,  Febntary,  1883. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE 
Parents — Early  Years — Home  in  Wales— Incidents — Emi- 
gration to  America — Settlement — Incidents — Conver- 
sion      17 

CHAPTER  II. 

The  Times  —  Licensed  to  Preach — Trial  Efforts — Associ- 
ates— Incidents — First  Circuit 81 

CHAPTER  III. 
Marriage — Location — Business  Affairs — Resumes  Itiner- 
ant Labors — Experience 50 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Elected  Editor — Incidents — Education — Missions — Holi- 
ness— Character 64 

CHAPTER  V. 
Editorial  Labors  Continued — Valuable  Extracts 86 

CHAPTER  VL 
General  Conference  of  1849 — Elected  Bishop — First  Con- 
ference Sessions 101 

CHAPTER  VII. 

General  Conference  of  1853 — Re-elected  Bishop — Editorial 
Labors  —  The  Conferences  —  Missionary  Board — Inci- 
dents      145 

ix 


X  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

PAQB 
Twelfth  General  Conference — Re-elected  Bishop — Diary — 

Incidents 175 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Thirteenth  General  Conference — Re-elected  Bishop — La- 
bors on  Bishop  Glossbrenner's  District— Diary — Inci- 
dents      198 

CHAPTER  X. 

Fourteenth  General  Conference  —  The  Conferences — As- 
sists Bishop  Marlcwood — Telescof)e  Articles — Incidents 
— Character  as  a  Preacher  —  Sermon  Sketches  —  Re- 
marks     228 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Fifteenth  General  Conference  —  Re-elected  Bishop — The 
Conferences — Visit  to  the  Pacific  Coast — Letters — Re- 
view of  his  Work  in  the  West 258 

CHAPTER  XIL 

Sixteenth  General  Conference— Re-elected  Bishop — Sent 
to  the  East  —  Tlie  Conferences  —  Revisits  the  Pacifio 
Coast — Incidents  of  the  First  Two  Years  —  Visit  to 
Dayton — Third  Round— In  Baltimore — Sick  —  Death 
and  Burial— Brief  Summary 280 


INTRODUCTION 


HE  good  man  has  a  twofold  immortality.  Tlie  one 
^plUv  belongs  U)  him  in  tlie  country  within  the  veil,  where 

— •  the  soul  enters  upon  a  higher  and  broader  life;  the 
other,  by  the  influence  of  personal  character  and  deeds, 
mingles  with  the  tliought  and  being  of  men,  and  flows  down 
the  stream  of  human  life  to  the  end  of  all  things. 

It  is  the  mission  of  biography  to  contribute  largely  to  the 
force  and  faithfulness  of  this  after-life  which  men  live  on 
earth.  As  the  historian  gives  to  succeeding  ages  the  lives 
and  influence  of  nations,  so  the  biographer  places  upon 
newly-forming  features  &f  society  the  influence  of  a  per- 
sonal life  which  has  completed  its  earthly  pilgrimage. 

Bishop  Edwards  has  been  in  the  unseen  holy  seven  years. 
He  has  measurably  solved  the  awful  mystery  of  human 
existence.  At  present  his  life  is  untrammeled  by  the  limi- 
tations of  time  and  space,  as  they  belong  to  us.  His  life 
no  more  bears  the  tax  of  wearying  toil.  Life  and  death 
have  rolled  up  the  curtains  which  conceal  from  us  eternal 
things. 

The  biographer  might  have  written  a  panegyric  upon  the 
life  of  Bishop  Edwards,  which  would  have  revealed  his  own 
skill  as  well  as  portrayed  the  enticing  features  of  a  remarka- 
ble human  life.     He  might  have  chosen  the  character  he 

xi 


Xii  INTRODUCTION. 

bas  handled  as  a  text  from  which  to  proclaim  certain  im- 
portant moral  truth?.  He  might  have  aimed  to  furnish 
rather  his  own  interpretation  of  the  character,  meaning, 
and  influence  of  the  life  of  Bishop  Edwards.  These  pos- 
sibilities, however,  have  not  been  the  aim  of  the  author 
of  this  volume.  He  has  sought  to  present  the  deceased 
bishop  of  the  past  generation  to  the  present  generation  just 
as  he  was.  The  pen  has  traceil  his  life  in  its  development 
of  character  through  sorrows  and  joys,  through  struggles 
and  labors,  through  sufferings  and  triumplis,  threading  the 
history  of  the  Church  to  its  final  consummation. 

The  value  of  this  personal  element  in  the  literature  of  a 
church  can  not  be  too  highly  appreciated.  The  Bible  gives 
us  the  biographies  of  Joseph  and  of  Euth  and  of  others  of 
illustrious  fame,  in  stories  of  marvelous  beauty.  The  Odys- 
8ey  of  Homer  gives  us  the  biography  of  Ulysses.  Suetonius 
tells  the  story  of  the  lives  of  the  Caesars.  Diogenes  Laertius 
records  the  biographies  of  the  ancient  philosophers,  wiiile 
Plutarch  has  furnished  the  ages  with  the  biographies  of 
the  greatest  among  the  Greeks  and  Romans.  Ancient,  medie- 
val, ;uh1  UKxlerii  literature  bring  us  vast  treasures  of  imper- 
i«liiil)le  wealth  in  the  biographies  of  the  good  and  the  great. 
How  fitting,  then,  that  our  own  Church  should  more  dili- 
gently and  sacredly  garner  and  guard  the  influence  and 
memory  of  its  honored  dead.  Tliis  is  the  first  instance  in 
which  the  biography  of  any  of  the  deceased  bishops  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ  has  been  placed  in  book-form. 

Forty  years  Bishop  Edwards  labored  in  the  gospel  minis- 
try. Twenty-^ven  years  he  bore  the  honors  and  met  the 
responsibilities  of  the  office  of  a  bisliop  in  a  progressive  and 
growing  church,  which  did  not  hesitate  to  grapple  with  the 
profoundest  moral  questions  of  the  age.  Four  years  he 
occupied  the  editorial  chair,  conducting  the  Eeligious  Tele- 


INTRODUCTION.  Xlll 

scope,  the  oflBcial  organ  of  the  church  of  his  choice.  He 
died  in  the  bishop's  oflBce,  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  June  6, 
1876.  A  deep,  oppressive  sorrow  fell  like  a  pall  upon  a  wide 
circle  of  Christian  hearts  when  it  was  announced  that  Bishop 
Edwards  was  dead. 

To  hundreds,  and  even  thousands,  he  whose  life  is  traced 
in  the  succeeding  pages  seems  hardly  to  have  passed  away. 
His  persuasive  voice  has  scarcely  been  hushed.  The  gracioua 
benedictions  pronounced  at  his  last  conferences  still  hover 
over  the  hosts  of  God.  The  strong  grasp  of  his  mighty 
hand  still  presses  the  living  palm.  Bishop  Edwards  Uvea 
alike  on  account  of  his  strong  personal  character  and  be- 
cause of  his  deeds. 

'■  Born  of  Welsh  parentage,  in  North  Wales,  and  early  emi- 
grating to  America,  Bishop  Edwards'  young,  strong  nature 
found  a  genial  sphere  of  development  in  the  broad  scope  and 
free  air  of  the  New  World.  He  was  by  nature  a  mighty 
man  in  physical,  mental,  and  moral  endowments.  He  was 
what  the  world  calls  a  "self-made  man."  He  was  the  prod- 
uct of  deep,  conscious,  entire  self-surrender  to  God,  and  the 
constant  cherishing  of  high  moral  ideas  and  sublime  Chris- 
tian truth.  He  developed  from  within.  Christ  was  his 
supreme  teacher.  His  life  was  a  flame  of  light,  kindled  by 
an  invisible  sun  within.  The  grace  of^  humility  adorned 
him  like  robes  of  spotless  purity.  When  asked  where  he 
received  his  education  he  replied,  "  1  am  not  educated." 
In  this  he  was  mistaken.  His  spirit  and  thought  touched 
those  of  great  and  cultured  men.  He  was  capable  of  pro- 
found thought,  and  was  a  preacher  of  wonderful  power.  He 
preached  largely  by  inspiration,  however  thorough  his  previ- 
ous preparation.  The  writer  can  never  cease  to  remember 
how  he  struggled  in  prayer  for  divine  help  before  his  great; 
pulpit  eflforta.    Then  he  trusted  in  God  and  left  results  with 


XIV  INTRODUCTION. 

him.  He  was  sometimes  lioniely,  and  even  rough,  in  hig 
Hirect  address  and  illustrations  in  tbe  pulpit.  Tliis  homeli- 
iie.ss  was  a  weapon  which  he  knew  liow  to  wield  with  power- 
ful effect.  In  his  better  and  grander  pulpit  ministrations  he 
far  transcended  all  this,  and  became  vivid,  ornate,  and  uncon- 
sciously dramatic.  He  was  pre-eminently  a  man  of  prayer, 
and  relied  largely  upon  God  for  immediate  direction.  He 
lived  ages,  counting  time  by  heart-throbs.  He  possessed 
deep  heart-consecration  to  Christ  and  the  Church.  Toil  was 
his  daily  food.  To  make  the  best  of  his  opportunities  and 
talents  was  a  ceaseless  aim.  His  convictions  upon  all  matters 
of  religion,  moral  reform,  prudence,  and  church-work  were 
intense.  His  soul  and  life  swung  unerringly  to  the  side  of 
conscience.  His  life  performed  -the  music  composed  in  higher 
spheres.  This  intensity  of  nature  sometimes  made  his  con- 
duct an  ofTense  to  those  who  only  partially  understood  him. 
Even  these,  iiowever,  honored  and  esteemed  him  as  a  man  of 
God. 

Bishop  Edwards  did  not  grow  weak  or  old,  but  retained 
the  vitality  and  strength  of  life  to  the  last.  He  had  energy 
enough  for  forty  years  more  in  the  ministry.  He  died  at 
the  zenith  of  u.sefulneas  and  power.  He  kept  abreast  of 
the  progress  of  the  Church,  yet  scrutinized  every  new  devel- 
opment. His  life  covered  the  period  in  our  Church  when 
its  enterprises,  institutions,  and  peculiar  features  of  ecclesi- 
astical government  really  took  form.  He  left  the  influence 
of  his  thought  and  life  in  the  Church,  rather  than  on  it 
These  facts  make  this  biography  the  more  valuable  to  the 
years  to  come,;  for, 

"  In  the  wreck  of  nobie  lives, 
Something  iuuiiortal  still  surviveB." 

The  critical  Carlyle  says,  "A  well-written  life  is  almost  aa 
rare  as  a  well-spent  one."     In  this  book  these  two  strangers 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 

meet,  It  is  pre-eminently  fitting  that  tlie  long-time  friend 
and  fellow-laborer  of  Bishop  Edwards,  Dr.  L.  Davis,  should 
have  written  this  biography.  His  long  personal  acquaint- 
ance with  his  subject,  his  unflinching  fidelity  to  facts,  hia 
wide  acquaintance  with  the  history  of  the  Church  in  these 
years,  his  simple,  ornate  style,  his  ripe  scholarship  and  long 
Christian  life  of  usefulness,  all  fit  him  for  this  task.  Few 
persons  can  fully  appreciate  the  labor  needed  to  produce 
such  a  volume.  As  the  evening  shadows  of  life  are  stretch- 
ing across  his  pathway,  he  has  turned  about  and  amid  other 
duties  sat  down  and  inscribed  an  "unrhymed  heroic  poem." 
The  book  shows  how  patient  the  toil  bestowed  upon  it.  In 
nn  incidental  manner,  very  much  of  interesting  and  profita- 
ble history  of  the  Church  is  given  which  is  nowhere  else 
accessible.  This  will  be  found  an  exceedingly  valuable 
feature  of  this  biography.  The  pen  of  the  author  has  been 
held  by  a  steady  hand.  He  has  chiseled  a  statue  of  a  great 
and  good  man.  This  has  been  so  done  as  scarcely  to  leave 
the  marks  of  the  tools  upon  the  image.  This  late  work  of  a 
life  already  so  full  of  labor  not  only  pays  a  just  tribute  to  a 
noble  character,  but  confers  also  a  lasting  blessing  and  her- 
itage upon  the  Church  and  coming  generations.  Bishop 
Edwards  is  made  to  rise  up  and  speak  with  the  same  voice 
familiar  in  days  long  gone  by.  Hundreds  of  old  men  will 
here  trace  the  life  of  one  dear  to  them,  and  find  new  consola- 
tion in  the  gospel  of  Christ.  Hundreds  of  young  men  will 
rise  up  from  reading  these  pages  and  go  out  inspired  and 
girded  for  stronger  and  nobler  lives.  To  the  writer  it  is  no 
ordinary  joy  to  commend  this  book  to  the  many  readers 
who  have  anxiously  awaited  its  appearance.  "The  memory 
of  the  just  is  blessed." 

J.  W.  HOTT. 
Dattom,  Ohio,  February  1,  1883. 


Life  of  Bishop  Edwards. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Parents — Early  Years — Home  in  Wales — Incidents — Emigra- 
tion to  America — Settlement — Incidents  — Conversion. 

I  AVID  EDWARDS  was  born  May  5, 
1816,  in  Denbigshire,  North  Wales,  one 
mile  from  Llangedwin  and  live  miles 
from  Llanfyllin,  in  Montgomeryshire.  Much 
of  this  country  is  rugged  and  mountainous, 
presenting  a  scenery  varied  and  picturesque. 
Its  extended  mountain  ranges  and  wide -spread 
valleys,  intersected  by  deep  ravines,  are  indeed 
very  remarkable.  In  fact,  this  part  of  Wales 
has  always  been  noted  for  its  romantic  charms. 
This  may  account,  in  part,  for  some  of  the  char- 
acteristics of  the  Welsh.  For  example,  they  are 
very  fond  of  poetry  and  music.  And  it  is  said 
that  their  language  is  especially  adapted  to  poet- 
ical eft'usions.  They  are  also  brave,  intelligent, 
generous,  and  impulsive.  But  they  are  moi;p 
noted  for   integrity  of  character  than   anything 

else.      It  ia  pleasant  to   know   that  the   subject 

17  2 


18  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

of  our  narrative  descended  from  a  race  so  noble 
as  this,  and  that  he  was  in  fact  a  native  of  no 
mean  country.  Many  who  read  these  pages  will 
readily  call  to  mind  how  often  he  referred,  in 
after  -  years,  to  his  Welsh  origin.  He  would 
say,  as  an  apology  for  some  of  his  hold  utter- 
ances, which  seemed  to  give  oft'ense,  *'  Brethren, 
you  must  remember  that  I  am  a  Welshman;" 
as  much  as  to  say,  this  will  help  you  to  under- 
stand me.  But  those  who  knew  him  best  did 
not  need  this  reminder;  for  it  was  very  appar- 
ent that  some  of  the  peculiarities  of  his  country- 
men clung  to  him  to  the  last. 

Edward  Edwards,  his  father,  was  twice  married, 
but  had  no  children  by  his  first  wife.  His  moth- 
er's maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Davis.  She  too 
was  twice  married,  her  first  husband's  name  being 
John  Jones.  By  this  marriage  she  had  one  son, 
named  Thomas,  who  at  this  writing  still  lives,  a 
respected  citizen  of  Delaware,  Ohio.  Six  children 
were  born  of  this  second  marriage, —  Elizabeth, 
John,  Ann,  Mary,  David,  and  Sarah,  their  ages 
corresponding  to  the  order  here  given.  John  was 
an  itinerant  minister  of  long  standing  and  great 
usefulness  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
But  all  these  members  of  the  Edwards  family 
liave  gone  to  their  reward,  except  Mary. 

The  parents  of  young  Edwards  had  lived  in 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  19 

the  early  part  of  their  married  life  iu  Montgom- 
ery shire,  three  miles  from  Llansantffraid.  Their 
home  consisted  of  a  small  rented  property,  be- 
longing to  the  father  of  Mrs.  Edwards.  It  was 
called  Penygroise.  Upon  one  corner  of  this 
little  estate  was  built  a  small  Dissenters'  church, 
in  which  a  few  Congregationalists  worshiped. 
The  Edwards  family  were  members  of  this  so- 
ciety; and  here  they  continued  to  worship  while 
they  remained  in  Wales.  Thus  humble  and  de- 
vout, they  continued  to  come  to  hear  the  word  of 
God  preached,  to  attend  the  Sabbath-school  and 
the  week  -  night  prayer  -  meeting,  even  after  a 
move  of  one  mile  and  a  half  had  taken  them  to 
the  location  in  Denbigshire,  before  mentioned. 
As  promptly  as  the  occasion  came,  the  parents 
with  their  children  found  their  way  to  the  house 
of  God.  Mr.  Edwards  often  said,  "My  father 
and  mother  were  deeply  pious.  They  had  the 
fear  of  God  before  their  eyes,"  The  grateful 
remembrance  of  this  fact  was  to  him  an  inspira- 
tion and  joy  all  through  life. 

At  the  time  he  was  born  the  family  lived  in  a 
plain,  neat  cottage  of  four  rooms,  which,  with 
four  acres  of  land,  was  known  by  the  name  of 
Bronrathro.  But  even  this  humble  home  belonged 
to  the  estate  of  an  English  landlord.  The  family 
possessions  did  not  extend  beyond  the  household 


%^ 


20  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

furniture,  and  at  one  time  a  horse.  Edward 
Edwards  was  a  mason  by  trade,  and  was  often 
intrusted  with  the  supervision  of  improvements, 
and  even  the  construction  of  new  buildings.  In 
every  relation  in  life  he  was  noted  for  his  rigid 
nprightness  and  strict  integrity.  One  Sabbath  a 
rich  land-holder,  upon  whom  he  was  chiefly  de- 
pendent, came  to  consult  him  concerning  a  piece 
of  work.  Mr.  Edwards  replied:  "Sir,  my  con- 
science does  not  allow  me  to  work  or  to  plan 
work  on  the  Sabbath-day.  Come  any  other  day 
and  I  will  gladly  do  for  you  anything  in  my 
power."  The  rich  man,  though  not  a  Christian, 
was  not  oflfended  at  this  answer,  but  was  more 
than  ever  desirous  of  trusting  his  work  to  one  so 
devoted  to  principle.  Once  on  the  Sabbath,  as  an 
exceptional  privilege,  the  children  desired  to  take 
a  walk  down  the  lane.  The  permission  of  the 
father  was  obtained  on  the  condition  that  they 
would  not  stop  to  play  and  would  return  soon. 
This  rigor  will  hardly  be  appreciated  by  an  age 
that  always  leans  to  the  side  of  indulgence  and 
sees  nothing  good  in  self-denial.  But  such  was 
the  parental  training  of  young  Edwards.  In 
referring  to  this  in  after -years  he  said,  "My 
parents  were  rigid,  but  kind,  in  the  govern- 
ment of  their  children."  The  positive  qualities 
of  the   Edwards   family  were   especially  due   to 


♦LIFE   OF   BISHOP  EDWARDS.  21 

the  mother.  She  was  a  woman  of  clear  and 
settled  convictions,  of  mild  but  efficient  govern- 
ment. This,  of  course,  gave  her  an  ascendant 
influence  over  the  children  as  they  grew  up  to 
manhood  and  womanhood.  These  are  rich  and 
noble  endowments.  "Were  they  transmitted?  At 
any  rate  they  re-appear  in  David  the  boy  and  in 
Edwards  the  bishop.  Besides,  the  place  of  his 
birth  and  its  immediate  surroundings  must  have 
been  eminently  fitted  to  awaken  and  develop 
his  unusual  gifts  of  nature.  The  rural  scenery 
of  this  his  first  home  on  earth  was  indeed  most 
lovely.  True,  he  left  it  when  quite  young;  but 
we  have  his  own  statement  for  it,  that  some  of 
its  charms,  like  visions  of  beauty,  remained  with 
him  all  through  life.  And  no  wonder,  for  every- 
thing here  seemed  to  please  and  attract.  A  short 
half-mile  in  front  of  the  dwelling  ran  the  beauti- 
ful stream  Tanat,  cool  and  fresh  from  the  mount- 
ains. Beyond  were  the  rising  slopes,  rough  hills, 
and  mountain  ranges.  Here,  close  by  the  way, 
are  splendid  gardens,  beautiful  walks,  and  rich 
gifts  of  nature,  newly  touched  and  directed  by 
the  hand  of  Art.  Yonder  is  a  noble  palace,  reno- 
vated and  improved  from  what  seems  to  be  an 
ancient  castle.  This  is  the  summer- resort  of  an 
English  gentleman.  The  children  of  that  cottage 
of  four  rooms  at  the  foot  of  the  green  hill-side 


22  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

might  be  born  poor  to  all  that  can  be  crowded 
into  purses,  but  no  stress  of  fortune  or  selfishness 
of  the  great  could  defraud  them  of  the  wealth 
that  gives  pleasure  to  the  eye  and  the  inspiration 
of  life  and  joy  to  the  mind.  This  was  Mr. 
Edwards'  boyhood  home;  and  even  thus  early  his 
highly-gifted  mind  could  appreciate  beauty  in 
nature  and  art.  These  early  impressions  and 
rich  endowments  he  brought  to  America;  and 
when  sanctified  by  the  Spirit  of  God  they  made 
him  the  mighty  preacher  that  he  was.  This 
is  the  key  to  the  whole  complexion  of  his  char- 
acter and  life.  Mr.  Edwards  was  characteristic- 
ally a  Welshman.  This  fact  makes  it  necessary 
to  dwell  a  little  longer  upon  this  phase  of  his 
lineage.  He  himself,  as  we  have  said,  often  re- 
ferred to  this.  The  Welsh  constitute  an  impor- 
tant remnant  of  the  once  widely  -  spread  Celts, 
who  now  have  so  generally  fallen  before  the 
more  powerful  Teutons.  They  are  the  descend- 
ants of  the  old  Britons,  who  early  embraced 
Christianity,  and  waged  a  vigorous  and  for  a  long 
time  a  hopeful  struggle  against  the  arrogant  pre- 
tensions of  the  Papacy.  The  old  Culdee  Church 
is  a  monument  to  the  child-like  susceptibility  and 
truth-loving  character  of  the  Celts.  To  our  times 
the  Welsh  have  maintained  their  character  for 
guilelessness  and   susceptibility  to  the  truths  of 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  23 

the  Christian  religion.  Hence  it  is  that  their  fire 
and  realism  have  passed  into  proverbs.  It  is  well 
known  that  when  the  Welsh  mind  is  touched  by 
the  power  of  the  gospel  it  becomes  an  uninter- 
mitting  flame.  Does  not  this  fact  explain  why  it 
was  that  Mr.  Edwards  was  so  mighty  in  the 
pulpit  and  in  the  council-chamber?  His  keen 
susceptibility,  fine  imagination,  and  wonderful 
descriptive  powers  may  be  attributed  to  his  Welsh 
origin. 

But  the  parents  of  this  family  caught  the 
spirit  of  emigration.  While  Mr.  Edwards  was 
at  his  daily  work  he  often  thought  with  longing 
desire  of  America.  One  Saturday  night  he  spoke 
of  these  desires  to  his  wife,  and  was  surprised  to 
find  that  the  same  longings  had  also  filled  her 
heart,  and  that  she  had  for  weeks  been  praying 
and  planning  for  an  opening  to  enable  them  to 
come  to  the  laud  of  plenty  and  equality.  They 
sought  this  change  especially  for  the  sake  of  their 
children.  Providence  having  opened  the  way, 
this  pious  family  left  their  home,  in  the  mount- 
ains of  Korth  Wales,  the  10th  of  April,  1821, 
and  the  second  day  of  the  following  month  set 
sail  from  Liverpool  in  the  ship  "  Thomas  Gibben- 
son,"  and  for  eight  weeks  were  out  upon  the  sea. 
During  the  voyage  a  roll  of  sheet-lead  weighing 
four  thousand  pounds,  becoming  loosened  from 


24  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

its  fastenings  by  the  rolling  of  the  ship,  pitched 
to  the  side  of  the  vessel,  crushing  the  lower 
berths  in  which  two  of  the  children  were  sleep- 
ing; but  a  projecting  timber  shielded  their  lives. 
Thus  under  the  protection  of  a  kind  Providence 
the  family  reached  Baltimore,  Maryland,  where 
they  remained  for  two  years.  Thomas  Jones,  the 
half  brother  of  the  other  children,  soon  went  on 
to  Delaware,  Ohio. 

At  Baltimore  the  father  soon  found  work,  and 
both  parents  became  members  of  that  branch  of 
the  Presbyterian  family  called  Seceders.  These 
people  were  intelligent  and  devout.  Hence  it 
proved  to  be  a  very  pleasant  church-home  for 
these  "Welsh  immigrants.  So  here,  for  the  time 
being,  the  entire  family  were  regular  attendants 
upon  the  means  of  grace.  This  privilege  they 
highly  appreciated,  especially  in  a  new  country, 
and  in  the  midst  of  strangers.  But  here  let  ua 
pause  for  a  moment  and  retiect.  In  this  same 
city  sleep  the  ashes  of  Otterbein.  Here  he  lived, 
struggled,  and  died.  His  great  soul  had  just 
passed  from  labor  to  reward.  But  lo!  God  is 
preparing  a  Welshman  upon  whom  the  mantle 
of  this  great  German  is  soon  to  fall.  Young 
Edwards  is  already  in  America,  and  we  shall  see 
in  the  simple  story  of  his  life  and  labors  how 
well  and  nobly  he  wrought  for  the  Master's  cause 
in  connection  with  "Otterbein's  people." 


LIFE   OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS.  25 

In  1823  the  family  moved  to  Delaware,  Ohio, 
where  the  father  of  Edwards  still  followed  his 
trade.  The  parents  at  once  united  with  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  As  no  house  of  worship  had 
yet  been  built  in  Delaware,  all  religious  services, 
including  a  flourishing  Sabbath-school,  were  held 
in  the  court-house. 

Here  the  family  received  the  full  benefit  of  spir- 
itual and  general  culture  through  these  services. 
The  impulse  and  means  of  mental  as  well  as 
moral  culture  were  thus  supplied.  Besides,  more 
than  the  usual  care  was  given  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  children  at  home.  Here  they  were 
taught  reading  and  writing,  the  lessons  of  mo- 
rality and  religion,  and,  not  least,  good  manners. 
The  parents  had  discharged  their  duty  well. 
They  had  consecrated  their  children  to  God  in  the 
ordinance  of  baptism  in  the  little  church  at  Peny- 
groise.  In  infancy  they  had  taught  them  to  pray. 
They  had  daily  at  the  family,  altar  sought  the 
blessing  of  God  upon  them.  In  their  tenderest 
years  they  had  led  them  to  the  Sabbath-school. 
The  testimony  of  Mr.  Edwards  is,  "My  parents 
taught  me  to  pray  from  my  earliest  recollection. 
They  also  taught  me  the  necessity  of  a  change  of 
heart  through  faith  in  Christ.  At  about  seven 
years  of  age  I  was  impressed  that  I  would  be 
called  to  the  ministry.     From  this  time  I  sought 


26  LIFE    OF    BISUOP    EDWARDS. 

the  Lord  in  secret,  and  led  a  moral  life.  In  the 
Sabbath-school,  as  well  as  under  the  preaching  of 
God's  word,  I  would  often  weep  and  pray  ear- 
nestly for  the  pardon  of  my  sins."  How  beautiful 
is  this  testimony  compared  with  the  neglect  that 
80  often  shames  the  relation  of  parent  and  child. 

It  was  well  that  these  parents  had  so  fully  dis- 
charged their  duty,  for  the  husband  and  father 
was  soon  to  be  taken  away.  In  1825  Edward 
Edwards  died  in  great  peace,  leaving  the  respon- 
sibility of  the  family  with  the  mother  and 
Thomas,  the  oldest  son,  who  from  his  occupation 
as  a  tailor  was  able  to  meet  the  principal  expenses 
of  a  frugal  living.  John  and  David  for  the 
three  succeeding  years  assisted  their  elder  brother 
in  the  shop,  occupied  themselves  about  home, 
and  took  such  work  from  others  as  they  could 
perform.  During  this  time  young  Edwards  re- 
ceived only  twelve  months  of  regular  schooling — 
all  that  he  ever  received  in  this  way.  In  his  riper 
years,  however,  by  the  aid  of  living  men  and 
living  books,  he  pushed  forward  to  a  respectable 
standing  among  scholars  and  thinkers  of  his 
time.     But  more  of  this  in  another  place. 

At  the  age  of  twelve  he,  with  his  brother  John, 
entered  the  woolen-factory  at  Delaware  as  an  ap- 
prentice, and  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  carding 
and  cloth-drcssiiiir. 


;-/  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  27' 

All  of  the  hands  slept  in  the  factory.  The 
first  night  when  he  knelt  down  at  his  bedside  to 
pray,  as  was  his  custom,  some  of  his  companions 
tossed  their  boots  at  him.  The  next  night  when 
he  knelt  down  they  said  in  a  whisper,  loud 
enough  to  be  distinctly  heard,  "H-u-s-h,  Dave's 
a  p-r-a-y-i-n."  But  he  gave  them  no  heed,  and 
treated  them  just  the  same  as  before.  It  was  not 
long  until  they  were  ready  to  show  him  the 
utmost  respect,  and  in  time  some  of  them  fol- 
lowed his  example.  After  his  connection  with 
the  factory  it  appears  that  his  attendance  at  Sab- 
bath-school was  interrupted.  Some  ladies  came 
to  the  factory  and  solicited  five  of  the  boys  to 
attend  the  Sabbath-school.  Three  accepted  the 
invitation;  the  other  two  refused  to  attend.  One 
of  the  two  referred  to  afterward  filled  a  drunk- 
ard's grave,  and  the  other  still  lives,  a  drunken 
saloon-keeper.  Of  the  three  who  went  to  Sabbath- 
school  one  became  a  Presbyterian  deacon,  another 
a  Methodist  preacher  of  4arge  usefulness,  and  the 
third  a  United  Brethren  bishop.  This  is  the 
substance  of  a  story  often  told,  by  the  subject  of 
this  narrative,  to  illustrate  the  importance  of 
Sabbath-school  work. 

Young  Edwards  was  full  of  healthful  energy, 
which  often  vented  itself  in  boyish  pranks.  He 
used   not  many  words  in  the    social   circle,  but 


28  LIFE   OF  BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

always  spoke  with  promptness  and  to  purpose. 
There  is  evidence  enough  even  at  this  early 
period  of  his  life,  that  his  mind  was  often  exer- 
cised upon  the  great  problems  that  have  always 
pressed  upon  noble  natures.  But  his  thoughts 
and  plans  were  generally  kept  to  himself.  His 
mind  was  capable  of  conversation  with  itself. 
Nevertheless  his  companionable  character,  while 
working  as  a  factory  hand,  is  attested  by  the 
warm  attachment  and  confidence  manifested  in 
after-years  by  those  with  whom  he  had  been  asso- 
ciated in  labor.  He  continued  at  Delaware  until 
he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  receiving  but  a 
meager  compensation  for  his  work,  and  that  in 
cloth.  But  now,  having  acquired  a  fair  knowl- 
edge of  his  trade,  he  prepared  to  leave  home,  and 
so  changed  his  place  of  labor.  It  is  not  certain 
that  he  knew,  at  once,  just  where  to  go,  or  at 
what  particular  place  he  might  find  employment. 
He  was  heard  to  say,  in  after- years,  "I  felt  like 
doing  something  more  and  better  for  myself." 
We  know  too  that  he  lifted  his  lieart  to  God  in 
prayer  for  his  protection  and  guidance.  Nor  did 
he  pray  and  trust  in  vain.  It  must  have  been  a 
great  trial  to  the  mother  to  see  her  boy  leave 
home,  "but  it  seemed  for  the  best."  "When  the 
time  came  to  leave, his  mother  said,  "Are  you 
sure,  David,  that  you  have  money  enough  to  go 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  29 

on?"  He  said,  "I  have  enough."  The  amount 
was  thirty-seven  cents,  all  told.  Here  was  a 
chance  for  the  exercise  of  that  faith  which  so 
much  distinguished  him  in  after-life.  His  mother 
now  cautioned  him  against  bad  company  and  bad 
habits;  and  so,  with  a  mother's  blessing, he  de- 
parted. A  kind  Providence  led-  him  to  Rock 
Mills,  about  seven  miles  above  Lancaster,  Ohio, 
on  the  Hocking  River.  In  these  mills  he  found 
employment,  and  at  once  went  to  hard  work. 
Here  the  pay  was  better  than  at  Delaware,  but  he 
was  away  from  mother  and  loved  ones.  This 
was  not  home.  "  At  times,"  said  he,  "  I  felt  sad 
and  lonely."  Besides,  the  very  things  against 
which  his  mother  cautioned,  namely,  bad  com- 
pany, and  the  danger  of  forming  bad  habits, 
seemed  now  to  confront  him.  In  fact  his  associa- 
tions at  this  place  put  his  principles  to  a  severe 
test.     But  God  was  with  him. 

After  he  had  been  at  Rock  Mills  about  one 
year  he  attended  a  protracted  meeting  held  by 
the  United  Brethren  in  a  neighboring  dwelling- 
house,  occupied  by  a  family  by  the  name  of 
Graul.  At  first  he  avoided  all  personal  connec- 
tion with  the  meeting,  but  was  at  length  deeply 
convicted,  and  resolved,  as  he  expressed  it,  "to 
commence  seeking  for  life."  He  joined  the 
church  as  a  seeker,  but  it  was  not  until  after  three 


30  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

months,  May  28, 1834,  at  a  meeting  held  at  Jacob 
Bolenbaugh's,  just  a  short  distance  from  wliere 
the  protracted  meeting  was  held,  that  he  received 
a  satisfactory  evidence  of  the  forgiveness  of  his 
sins.  The  depth  of  his  experience  and  the 
energy  of  his  religious  life  began  to  suggest  to 
the  minds  of  others,  whether  God  might  not  have 
a  special  work  for  the  converted  factory-boy 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Times  — Licensed  to  Preach  —  Trial  Efforts —Associates — 
Incidents  —  First  Circuit. 

'T  is  no  easy  task  to  take  ourselves  back 
nearly  a  half  century,  to  the  time  when 
Mr.  Edwards  entered  upon  his  minis- 
terial career;  and  yet,  to  understand  his 
M  life  and  labors,  it  is  necessary  to  take  some 
notice  of  the  times  in  which  he  wrought, 
the  living  forces  that  were  most  prominent  in 
society,  and  the  immediate  circumstances  with 
which  he  had  to  contend.  In  1835,  when  he  iirst 
looked  out  upon  public  life,  the  population  of 
the  United  States  was  only  sixteen  millions. 
The  frontier  line,  marking  the  limit  of  settle- 
ment, ran  through  Michigan,  northern  Illinois, 
and  Missouri.  Wisconsin  and  Iowa  had  not  as 
yet  been  organized  as  territories.  Ohio  had 
looked  upon  but  a  single  generation.  The 
churches  had  scarcely  adjusted  themselves  to  the 
great  problems  that  were  to  be  wrought  out 
through  the  commingling  of  the  nations  in  the 

new   world.      The   country   was   new,   and    but 

31 


82  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

sparsely  settled,  especially  in  all  that  vast  terri- 
tory lying  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains. 
The  churches,  too,  were  generally  weak,  and  but 
poorly  organized  for  work.  This  was  especially 
true  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ.  The  Church 
numbered  but  eight  conferences,  and  probably 
less  than  twenty  thousand  members.  At  this 
time,  however,  no  regular  records  were  kept; 
hence  this  uncertainty  respecting  the  number 
of  its  communicants  at  the  time  referred  to. 
United  Brethren  meeting-houses,  in  Ohio,  could 
be  counted  on  one's  fingers.  The  Religious  Tele- 
scope was  less  than  a  year  old.  But  little  atten- 
tion had  been  given  to  the  external  and  indirect 
conditions  of  success.  No  general  missionary 
society,  no  educational  institutions  had  been  es- 
tablished. The  Church  had  just  commenced  to 
pass  through  that  slow  and  losing  process  of 
transition  from  the  German  to  the  English  char- 
acter. But  few  of  its  ministers  could  preach 
or  conduct  religious  services  in  the  English  lan- 
guage. True,  its  doctrines  and  principles  were 
then,  as  now,  thoroughly  orthodox,  and  its  meth- 
ods of  work  such  as  were  usual  among  evan- 
gelical Christians;  but  these  were  only  formative. 
Hence  the  principles  and  methods  of  the  Church, 
however  good,  needed  to  be  stated,  proved,  and 
illustrated  in  pnietical  life.  This  was  the  one 
great  work  to  be  done. 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  33 

Imperative  was  the  call  for  laborers.  Great, 
too,  was  the  opposition;  aud  of  those  who  came 
forward  at  this  time  no  one  has  stood,  from  first 
to  last,  nearer  the  life  of  the  Chnrch,  and  nearer 
the  center  of  conflict,  than  Mr.  Edwards.  To 
name  his  early  co-laborers,  at  least  any  consider- 
able number  of  them,  Avould  carry  us  beyond  our 
limits.  In  the  Scioto  country,  and  at  large  in  the 
Church,  men  of  great  self-denial,  thorough  conse- 
cration, and  excellent  powers  for  the  ministry, 
entered  the  conferences  and  wrought  successfully 
for  the  Master.  The  omission  of  particular  men- 
tion of  these  faithful  associates,  in  this  connec- 
tion, should  not  be  understood  as  detracting  from 
the  high  estimation  in  which  they  deserve  to  be 
held.  "Without  them  Mr.  Edwards  would  never 
have  been  what  he  was. 

We  have  seen  that  his  origin  was  indeed  hum- 
ble, that  his  parents  were  poor  but  respectable, 
that  his  early  educational  advantages  were  very 
limited,  and  that  he  had  no  family  or  social  con- 
nections to  lift  him  into  public  notice.  All  these 
facts  have  been  stated,  or  clearly  intimated.  He 
was  nevertheless  one  of  God's  noblemen,  richly 
endowed  by  nature,  and,  by  the  power  of  divine 
grace,  nourished  up  to  a  great  manhood.  At 
first  awkward  and  disappointing,  in  time  he 
became  easy  and  assuring  in  manners.     He  was 


34  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

iu  height  about'  five  feet  and  ten  inches,  but 
was  never  at  any  period  of  his  life  corpulent. 
His  eyes  were  dark,  deep,  and  very  penetrating. 
The  larsreness  of  his  head  and  chest  were  also 
marked  features  of  his  personal  appearance.  But 
these  were  only  the  external  signs  of  the  coming 
preacher,  editor,  and  bishop.  He  is  now  about  to 
enter  upon  a  brilliant  and  useful  career,  and  it  is 
our  pleasant  task  to  mark  its  unfoldings.  But 
let  us  be  true  to  the  facts,  and  at  once  recognize 
the  hand  of  God  in  every  such  life  of  strength, 
beauty,  and  excellence.  It  begins  with  a  divine 
call  to  the  ministry.  It  is  the  peculiar  preroga- 
tive of  the  great  Head  of  the  church  to  desig- 
nate men  to  preach  the  gospel.  All  Protestant 
denominations  substantially  agree  on  this  sub- 
ject. In  all  ages  and  under  every  dispensation 
of  religion  which  God  has  been  pleased  to  give 
to  mankind,  this  principle  has  been  recognized. 
It  guided  in  the  appointment  of  Aaron  and  his 
sons  to  the  ofiice  of  the  priesthood,  and  in  fill- 
ing the  prophetical  and  apostolic  oflices.  This 
is  the  faith  and  practice  of  the  United  Brethren 
in  Christ.  She  admits  no  one  to  this  holy  ofiice 
who  does  not  o'ive  evidence  that  he  is  "  moved  bv 
the  Holy  Ghost  to  preach  the  gospel."  It  is  well 
known  that  Mr.  Edwards  held  this  view  as  being 
essential  to  the  validity  of  the  Christian  ministry. 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWAUDS.  35 

f  He  was  often  heard  to  say,  pul3licly  and  privately, 
that  "  none  are  true  ministers  of  Christ  but  they 
who  are  called  of  God,  as  was  Aaron."  Many 
have  heard  him  relate  his  own  experience  on  this 
Huhjec't.  It  was  clear  and  distinct.  His  usual 
way  of  stating  it  was,  "  Soon  after  my  conver- 
sion, I  felt  an  inward  call  to  preach  the  gospel." 
But  his  extreme  timidity  was  a  great  obstacle  to 
him.  His  quarterly-conference  license  bears  date 
May  23,  1835.  So  bashful  was  he  at  this  time, 
that  when  his  presence  was  desired  in  the  confer- 
ence one  of  the  brethren  had  to  go  out  and  con- 
strain him  to  come  in.  On  entering  the  room  he 
seemed  not  to  know  what  to  do  with  himself. 
When  his  license  was  handed  to  him  he  folded  it 
and  tucked  it  in  his  vest-pocket,  not  wishing  to 
notice  it  in  the  presence  of  others.  Call  this  a 
trifle,  if  you  please,  but  it  \ya8  not  so  to  him. 
But  that  which  appalled  him  most  was  the  nature 
and  the  responsibility  of  the  work  itself.  Thus 
weighed  down,  he  cried  mightily  to  God  for  help; 
and  in  the  deepest  anguish  of  soul  he  exclaimed, 
"The  load  is  too  heavy,  I  can  not  bear  it!  Oh, 
what  shall  I  do?"  The  local  class  to  which  he 
belonged  at  this  time  numbered  about  one  hun- 
dred members.  They  had  just  passed  through  a 
most  extraordinary  revival.  A  goodly  number 
had  been  converted  and  brought  into  the  Church ; 


SQ  LIFE   OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

and  of   them  six  were  now  licensed  to  preach.  ,  S 
The   field  of  labor  to  which  this  class  belonged 
was    Pickaway    Circuit.      It   embraced    twenty- 
eight  appointments,  and  a  single  round  required 
four  weeks.     Rev.  M.  Ambrose  was  preacher  in 
charge.      One  day,  meeting  young  Edwards,  he 
said,  "Can  you  not  go  at  least  one  round  with  me 
on  the  circuit?"   Edwards  hesitated.    Some  of  the 
brethren  in  the  neighborhood  urged  him  to  go 
and  make  the  trial.     They  said,  "If   you  have 
been  truly  called  to  preach,  you  have  but  to  open 
your  mouth  and  the  Lord  will  fill  it."     So  he 
bought   a   horse  and  a  small  outfit   in   clothing 
and  went  along.     The  first  appointment  was  at  a 
private  house.  Mr.  Ambrose  preached,  and  young 
Edwards  tried  to  exhort.      He  rose   and  opened 
his  mouth,  as  he  afterward  said,   "but  nothing 
more  unusual   than  air  filled  it."      This  failure, 
though  a  too  literal  view  of  Bible  language,  let 
it  be  remembered,  did  not  cause  liim  to  lose  con- 
fidence  forever  in  the  great  truth  of  the  Holy 
Spirit's  help.     After  his  failure,  however,  he  was 
discouraged,  and  made  up   his   mind   to   return 
home.     Darkness,  deep  darkness,  seemed  now  to 
settle  down  upon  his  soul.     But  the  Lord's  hand 
was  in  it.     It  was  for  the  trial  of  his  faith.     Of 
this  his  brethren  reminded  him.     So,  fortunately, 
he  was  induced  to  go  on    and   try   again.     Mr. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP   EDWAEDS.  37 

Ambrose  requested  him  to  take  turns  with  him- 
self iu  conducting  family  devotions  at  the  places 
where  they  stopped.  This  he  consented  to  do. 
So  one  evening,  while  leading  in  the  devotions, 
he  became  confused,  and  brought  his  prayer 
abruptly  to  a  close,  with  "  Amen  and  so  forth." 
At  other  times,  too,  even  in  the  public  congrega- 
tion, he  was  known  to  cut  short  the  difficulty  in 
the  same  way.  Little  was  thought  of  the  inci- 
dent just  given;  but  the  next  morning  when  the 
horses  were  saddled  he  said  in  his  quick,  short 
way,  "  Now,  I  reckon,  you'll  let  me  go  home. 
"When  a  fellow  like  me  gets  so  hard  up  in  prayer 
that  he  has  to  stop  and  say  '  and  so  forth,'  I  think 
he  had  better  go  home  and  stay  there."  "  But," 
said  Mr.  Ambrose,  "everybody  knows  that  you 
bought  a  horse  and  started  round  with  me.  Now, 
what  will  they  say  if  you  leave  the  circuit  and 
go  home?"  So,  after  an  energetic  exhortation,  he 
again  suffered  himself  to  be  led  along,  but  only 
to  meet  difficulties  of  a  like  kind  wherever  he 
went.  He  especially  dreaded  the  somewhat 
wealthy  congregation  at  Dresbach's  meeting- 
house. Here  he  pleaded  off  from  going  into  the 
pulpit.  Next  day,  dejected  in  spirits,  he  started 
home,  mourning  over  his  ill  success.  About  half 
way  home  he  thought  of  the  Wednesday  evening 
prayer-meeting.     One  of  the  six  young  preachers 


38  LIFE   OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

before  mentioned  would  have  to  open  the  meet- 
ing, and  as  he  had  been  away  four  weeks  he 
would  likely  be  the  one  called  on;  and  worse 
than  all,  improvement  would  be  expected.  The 
thought  was  not  out  of  his  mind  except  when 
asleep.  He  was  tempted  to  stay  at  home.  Then 
he  thought  he  would  go,  but  go  late.  Acting 
upon  this,  he  entered  the  room,  found  a  back 
seat,  and  quickly  sat  down.  Philip  Coons,  the 
oldest  of  the  young  preachers,  rose  and  said 
aloud,  "  Brother  Edwards,  come  this  way."  Hat 
in  hand,  he  went  forward  and  said,  "What  do  you 
want  with  me?"  "To  open  the  meeting,  of 
course,"  was  the  reply.  Knowing  that  it  would 
be  of  no  use  to  refuse,  and  fearing  that  he  might 
displease  the  Lord,  he  said,  "Sing  a  hymn  till  I 
come  back."  He  then  went  out  into  an  adjoining 
orchard  to  pray.  Here  the  cloud  was  lifted  from 
his  mind.  He  then  returned  and  led  the  meeting 
with  manifest  tokens  of  the  Spirit's  help.  After 
the  meeting:  the  brethren  commended  the  im- 
provement  he  had  made,  and  said  he  ought  to  go 
another  round.  These-  words  of  comfort  and 
hope  were  timely,  and  did  him  much  good.  The 
Master  himself  seemed  now  to  say  to  his  hith- 
erto troubled  heart,  "  Be  of  good  cheer."  These 
lights  and  shades  in  the  early  experience  of  Mr. 
Edwards  are  not  here  noticed  because  they  are 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  39 

new.  They  are,  in  a  measure,  comraon  to  all 
pious  and  sensible  young  men  when  just  entering 
upon  the  work  of  the  ministry.  ■♦  In  fact  they 
are  often  the  precursors  of  the  greatest  excellence 
and  influence. 

About  this  time  Rev.  E.  Van  Demark  was  placed 
in  charge  of  Pickaway  Circuit.  His  colleague 
having  resigned,  he  asked  for  the  help  of  Mr. 
Edwards.  This  was  granted.  So  now  he  began 
itinerant  work  in  earnest,  IsTovember  1,  1835. 
For  the  six  months  closing  with  the  iirst  of  the 
following  May  he  received  only  twenty  dollars 
for  his  services.  He  was  well  received  on  the 
circuit.  Mr.  Van  Demark  set  a  high  estimate 
upon  his  young  associate,  but  could  not  get  to 
hear  him  preach  until,  arriving  late  at  an  appoint- 
ment at  which  they  had  agreed  to  meet,  he  heard 
Edwards  announce  his  text;  and  knowing  that 
the  young  preacher  would  likely  sit  down  if  he 
entered  the  room,  he  remained  at  the  door  and 
heard  him  through.  At  this  time  he  was  hard  to 
follow  in  a  sermon.  His  utterances  were  rapid 
and  often  very  indistinct.  Words  did  not  seem 
to  flow,  but  rather  to  rush  along  in  broken 
fragments.  His  ideas,  however,  were  sound  and 
logical.  This  all  intelligent  persons  could  readily 
discern.  Worldly  people  sometimes  made  unfa- 
vorable remarks  on  account  of  the  above-named 


40  LIFE    OF    BISUOP    EDWARDS. 

defects;  but  the  pious  were  never  discouraged, 
even  by  the  poorest  of  his  eflbrts.  It  is  to  be 
remembered  that  at  this  time  he  was  but  nineteen 
years  old.  During  this  year,  he  having  failed, 
according  to  his  own  view,  in  one  of  his  Sabbath- 
morning  efforts,  and  having  an  appointment  in 
the  Ortman  neighborhood  at  night,  discourage- 
ment almost  overcame  him.  Thomas  McGrady, 
with  whom  he  was  stopping,  found  him  lying 
upon  the  ground,  on  a  hill  some  distance  from 
the  house,  trying  to  die.  He  felt  that  he  could 
not  preach;  and  he  asked  the  Lord  to  take  him 
away.  His  standard  of  the  preacher's  qualifica- 
tions and  work  was  so  high  that  no  ordinary 
success  could  satisfy  him.  There  have  been  a 
few  men  in  the  world  incapable  of  mediocrity, 
and  Mr.  Edwards  was  one  of  the  number.  The 
labor  of  the  year  was  quite  successful,  resulting 
in  a  number  of  revivals.  He  was  very  studious, 
always  carrying  with  him  a  New  Testament, 
Kirkham's  Grammar,  and  other  books.  He  stud- 
ied much  on  horseback,  and  so  occupied  himself 
with  his  books  at  stopping-places  that  he  was 
regarded  by  some  as  very  poor  company.  His 
senior  colleague  assisted  him  in  grammar  until 
the  student  outstripped  the  teacher.  Often  was 
he  found  upon  his  knees  in  the  woods,  beside 
a  log  or  a  tree,  with    his  Testament  spread  out 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  41 

before  him — for  it  Was  by  prayer  and  study  that 
he  sought  the  meaning  of  the  "Word.  In  1836 
he  became  a  member  of  Scioto  Conference,  and 
from  tliat  time  he  made  the  fortunes  of  the 
Church  his  fortunes.  The  United  Brethren  in 
Christ  were  then  a  feeble  band,  residing  mostly 
in  the  rural  districts  of  Pennsylvania,  Maryland, 
Virginia,  and  Ohio.  Mr.  Edwards  knew  nothing 
of  these  humble  people  at  this  time,  except  from 
what  he  had  seen  of  them  in  a  very  few  localities; 
for  they  had  no  history,  and  were  entirely  un- 
known to  fame.  He  said,  "  Those  of  them  that 
I  had  met  seemed  humble,  spiritual,  and  devout; 
and  this  pleased  me.  I  then  read  carefully  their 
book  of  Discipline,  and  found  them  evangelical 
in  doctrine  and  thoroughly  opposed  to  the  spirit 
of  the  world."  "  A  sincere  love  of  a  pure  church- 
fellowship,  shown  in  their  opposition  to  slavery 
and  all  secret  orders,"  he  said,  "  especially  pleased 
me."  So  he  said,  "  These  are  the  Lord's  people, 
and  I  will  go  with  them."  How  true  he  was  to 
these  convictions  and  to  the  church  of  his  choice 
we  all  know.  The  next  year  the  conference  placed 
Mr.  Edwards  on  Brush  Creek  Circuit,  along  with 
Kev.  John  Eckert,  a  foreign  German,  of  good 
abilities  and  long  experience  in  the  ministry  but 
not  very  agreeable  in  his  habits  and  manner  of 
life.     Hence  it  was  feared  by  some  that  young 


42  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

Edwards  would  suffer  by  being  thus  associated 
with  one  so  aged  and  peculiar  in  his  methods  of 
work.  But  this  fear  was  not  well  founded.  His 
rare  good  sense  and  piety  led  him  to  accept  the 
situation,  and  so  go  to  work  in  earnest.  At  that 
time  Brush  Creek  Circuit  was  large,  extending 
through  the  greater  portion  of  Highland,  Adams, 
and  Brown  counties.  It  was  at  least  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  miles  around,  and  embraced  twen- 
ty-eight regular  appointments,  which  had  to  be 
filled  by  each  preacher  ever}'^  four  weeks.  It  is 
easy  to  see  that  the  work  must  have  been  very 
laborious.  It  was  also  quite  successful.  Mr. 
Edwards  received  for  this  year's  work  fifty-five 
dollars,  all  told.  It  was  during  this  year  that  he 
preached  for  the  first  time  before  his  mother. 
Many  preachers  can  tell  what  a  trial  that  involves. 
His  text  was  I.  Peter  iv.  18:  "And  if  the  right- 
eous scarcely  be  saved,  where  shall  the  ungodly 
and  the  sinner  appear?  '*  He  succeeded,  as  he 
thought,  quite  well.  lie  was,  however,  anxiou& 
to  know  what  his  mother  thought  of  the  sermon, 
and  gave  her  opportunities  enough  to  tell;  but 
she  said  not  a  word.  When  at  length  others 
drew  from  her  an  expression  of  opinion  she  said, 
"  There  was  terror  enough  in  it."  These  simple 
and  quiet  words  of  his  mother  made  a  deep  and 
abiding  impression  on  his  mind.     He  acknowl- 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS,  43 

edged  many  times,  in  after- years  that  this  an- 
swer had  much  to  do  in  changing  the  tone  of  his 
preaching.  In  referring  to  it  he  said,  ""When  I 
commenced  traveling,  such  was  my  zeal  that  I 
expected  to  drive  sinners  to  Christ  by  scare, — 
mainly  by  urging  the  terrors  of  the  law  and  the 
awful  retribution  which  awaits  the  ungodly.  Thus 
armed,  at  it  I  went;  but  to  my  great  astonish- 
ment and  confusion  I  found  that  I  beat  the 
church  and  the  congregation  to  death,  in  many 
instances,  by  the  very  means  which  I  expected 
would  revive  and  save  them.  We  must  preach 
the  terrors  of  the  law,  to  be  sure;  but  the  law 
can  not  save.  The  gospel  alone  can  do  this." 
So  we  see  it  took  some  time  for  him  to  develop 
into  the  unctions  gospel-preacher.  There  was,  in 
fact,  a  gradual  unfolding  of  all  his  powers.  No 
premature  ripeness  stood  in  the  way  of  a  vigor- 
ous and  sustained  maturity.  He  early  habituated 
himself  to  orderly  methods  in  preaching.  Nor 
did  he  even  in  exhortation  depart  from  this  rule. 
To  this  we  must  ascribe  much  of  his  power  in 
the  pulpit  and  on  the  rostrum.  It  is  needless  to 
say  that  all  the  leading  members  of  the  confer- 
ence watched  the  progress  of  young  Edwards, 
with  great  interest.  Notably  among  these  may 
be  mentioned  Benedum,  Hastings,  Ambrose,  Han- 
by,  Coons,  Montgomery,  and  Van  Demark.  These 


44  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

have  all  been  called  from  labor  to  reward  except 
the  last  one  mentioned,  who  at  this  writing  still 
lingers  among  us,  waiting  for  the  chariots  of 
Israel.  Father  Benedum,  of  precious  memory, 
fell  asleep  in  Jesus  the  same  year  that  Edwards 
traveled  Brush  Creek  Circuit.  His  loss  was  keenly 
felt. 

At  the  conference  of  1837,  Van  Demark  and 
Edwards  were  once  more  associated  in  work  and 
placed  on  "Winchester  Circuit.  They  were  mutu- 
ally pleased  at  this,  and  so  went  to  work  at  once. 
The  circuit  extended  through  portions  of  Frank- 
lin, Licking,  Pickaway,  and  Fairliold  counties.  It 
was  about  four  hundred  miles  around,  and  in- 
cluded thirty  appointments,  which  were  to  be 
filled  by  each  preacher  every  four  weeks.  They 
traveled  this  large  circuit  on  horseback.  The 
people  were  poor,  with  but  few  exceptions,  and 
of  course  could  not  do  much  for  them  in  the  way 
of  support.  But,  trusting  in  God,  they  went 
forward,  and  were  generally  provided  for.  At 
the  beginning  of  the  year  they  entered  into  a 
covenant  to  give  themselves  to  prayer  and  the 
study  of  God's  word,  so  that  they  might  be  more 
.successful  in  leading  sinners  to  Christ.  Their 
prayers  were  answered  and  their  labors  greatly 
blessed.  Mr.  Edwards  did  not  spend  his  time  in 
cheap  talk;  nor  was  he  disposed  to  listen  very 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  45 

long  to  the  gossiping  stories  of  others,  as  the  fol- 
lowing incident  will  show:  In  making  his  first 
round  on  Winchester  Circuit,  he  stopped  with  a 
family  somewhat  addicted  to  this  vice.  The  good 
lady  of  the  house  went  on  to  tell  him  of  a  quarrel 
that  had  taken  phice  between  two  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church.  He  listened  awhile,  and  then 
said,  "  Stop,  mother,  stop;  I  do  not  want  to  hear 
any  more  of  it.  I  hav<i  all  that  I  can  do  to  attend 
to  the  gospel."  This  may  seem  a  little  abrupt, 
but  the  case  probably  justified  it.  He  knew  when 
to  be  rigid  and  severe,  and  also  when  to  be  gentle 
and  kind.  At  one  time  during  this  year  Mr. 
Yau  Demark  was  under  the  necessity  of  going 
home,  and  asked  a  certain  minister  to  fill  some  of 
his  appointments.  Edwards  did  not  think  the 
brother  applied  to  a  very  energetic  preacher;  so 
he  turned  to  his  colleague  and  said,  in  a  firm 
tone,  "  You  must  fill  those  appointments  yourself. 
That  is  according  to  our  agreement."  Here  again 
we  see  that  faithfulness  to  principle  which  always 
characterized  him.  His  preaching  at  this  time 
seemed  to  be  attended  with  great  power.  He  and 
his  colleague  held  a  protracted  meeting  in  the 
town  of  Winchester,  with  marked  success.  He 
was  earnest,  quick,  and  intelligent  in  a  high 
degree,  but  still  speaking  with  too  much  rapidity 
and  with  his  mouth  but  partially  open.     A  dis- 


46  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

tinguislied  gentleman — a  member  of  congress — 
hearing  him  preach  during  the  meeting  referred 
to,  said  to  Mr.  Van  Demark,  his  colleague,  "  If 
you  can  get  that  boy  to  open  his  mouth  he  will 
make  a  preacher."  The  United  Brethren  at  this 
time  had  no  house  of  worship  in  Winchester.  On 
one  Sabbath  the  United  Brethren  congregation 
came  together  at  the  church  of  a  sister  denomi- 
nation, under  the  mistaken  impression  that  con- 
sent had  been  given  for  the  use  of  the  church. 
It  happened  that  said  denomination  had  arranged 
for  a  class -meeting.  Unpleasant  feelings  were 
excited  at  once,  and  were  but  too  freely  expressed. 
Edwards  walked  back  and  fortb,  saying  nothing, 
but  groaning  in  spirit.  Bat  finally  he  was  re- 
quested to  come  in  and  preach.  He  did  so,  and 
took  for  his  text,  "  Behold,  how  good  and  how 
pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in 
unity!"  He  entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  text  With 
great  clearness  and  power,  but  made  no  allusion 
to  the  altercation  that  had  just  taken  place.  Here 
we  see  his  ready  power  of  appreciating  and  doing 
what  is  required  by  circumstances.  In  other 
words,  his  strong  common  sense,  sweetened  with 
piety,  showed  itself.  He  was  mighty  in  prayer. 
This  was  his  chief  reliance  in  trouble.  At  one 
time,  during  a  violent  disturbance  at  a  camp- 
meeting,  he  cast  himself  down  in  a  tent  that  was 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  47 

being  unroofed  by  a  mob,  and  prayed  with  all  his 
might.  The  excitement  immediately  ceased  and 
order  was  restored.  He  said,  "The  Lord  did  it; 
let  him  have  the  glor}'-."  He  always  kept  an 
excellent  horse,  and  took  good  care  of  him.  And, 
what  ought  to  find  no  exception  in  the  ministry, 
he  was  a  cleanly  and  pure  man  in  his  person  and 
habits.  His  salary  for  this  year's  service  was 
eighty  dollars. 

At  the  conference  of  1838  Mr.  Edwards  was 
appointed  to  Raccoon  Circuit,  with  Rev.  A.  Eby 
as  colleague.  The  circuit  then  included  a  large 
portion  of  Athens,  Vinton,  and  Meigs  counties, 
in  the  hilly  regions  of  southern  Ohio.  It  was 
large,  and  difficult  to  travel.  The  people  were 
generally  poor  and  ignorant,  and  of  course  could 
not  do  much  in  the  way  of  support.  Lodging 
and  board  were  of  the  simplest  kind.  Roads  and 
bridges  had  hardly  been  thought  of.  Places  for 
preaching  were  the  cabins  of  these  poor  people, 
and  occasionally  a  school-house.  Appointments 
were  far  between  and  difficult  to  reach,  as  the 
travel  passed  over  hills  but  little  less  than  mount- 
ains. But  no  matter,  he  went  forward  trusting 
in  God,  feeling,  as  he  said,  "that  the  Master's 
vineyard  must  be  cultivated,  whatever  it  may 
cost."  The  hardships  through  which  he  and  all 
the  early  ministers  of  the  Church  were  called  to 


48  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

pass  can  scarcely  be  realized  by  the  present  gen- 
eration. Like  all  men  of  independent  thought 
and  action,  Mr.  Edwards  was  occasionally  perse- 
cuted, lie  was  not  the  man  to  hold  opinions  on 
questions  of  public  interest  and  say  nothing  about 
them.  His  bold  utterances  of  truth  on  the  slavery 
question  more  than  once  brought  him  into  danger. 
This  did  not,  however,  seriously  interrupt  his 
work  on  the  circuit.  Fearless,  yet  prudent  and 
sagacious,  he  always  managed  so  as  not  to  be 
hindered  in  his  appropriate  work.  This  was  a 
year  of  much  prosperity  to  the  Church  in  the 
Raccoon  country.  He  found  here  some  excellent 
families  and  well-to-do  people,  notwithstanding 
the  general  destitution  before  mentioned.  Some 
of  these  united  with  the  Church,  thus  giving 
greater  efficiency  and  permanency  to  the  circuit. 
His  salary  this  year  was  eighty  dollars,  —  the 
usual  amount  paid  to  a  single  man.  In  1839  the 
conference  met  at  Pleasant  Run,  where  Mr.  Ed- 
wards was  elected  to  elders'  orders,  after  the 
usual  probation  of  three  years,  and  ordained  by 
Bishop  Kumler,  senior,  along  with  Lewis  Am- 
brose and  W.  W.  Coons.  The  occasion  was 
unusually  solemn  and  impressive.  At  that  time 
there  was  no  "Course  of  Reading"  laid  down 
for  licentiate  preachers,  upon  which  to  be  exam- 
ined before  ordination.  But  it  was  found  that 
Edwards   had  been  very  diligent  in  study,  and 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS.  49 

was  already  acquainted  witli  some  of  the  best 
books  then  in  use  on  theological  and  religious 
subjects.  The  present  course  of  study,  to  be 
sure,  would  have  been  a  help  to  him;  but  he  could 
and  would  study,  either  with  or  without  such 
help.  From  this  conference  he  was  sent  to  Bur- 
lington Circuit,  in  the  extreme  southern  portion 
of  Ohio.  This  was  sending  him  away  from  the 
better  portion  of  the  Church  to  serve  a  few  dis- 
heartened and  scattered  societies  in  a  country 
exceedingly  rough  and  difficult  to  travel.  But 
he  was  not  the  man  to  hesitate  or  falter  in  the 
presence  of  a  clearly-defined  duty.  So,  true  to 
his  consecration-vows,  he  went  and  commenced 
work  at  once.  Here  the  situation  and  circum- 
stances were  much  the  same  as  those  of  the  pre- 
ceding year.  He  found  the  same  hilly  country, — 
all  over  hilly, — and  the  people  here,  as  before, 
generally  poor  and  much  in  need  of  the  gospel. 
And  how  well  and  nobly  he  bent  himself  to  the 
work  in  hand  is  still  a  subject  of  common  talk  iu 
many  portions  of  southern  Ohio.  So  the  light 
of  his  life  and  the  good  effects  of  his  preaching 
still  remain  on  Burlington  Circuit.  The  Lord 
blessed  his  labors  abundantly;  but  at  the  close  of 
the  year  his  health  was  somewhat  impaired.  He 
received  as  salary  for  the  year  ninety -five  dol- 
lars, and  presents  thirty -two  dollars  and  fifty 
cents,  all  told.  * 


CIIArTER   111. 

Marriage  —  Location — Business   Affairs  —  Resumes  Itinerant 
Labors  —  Experience. 

i^%%i  ^^^^  niiles  east  of  Athens,  Ohio,  there  lived 
?£g^^|  a  very  interesting  and  intelligent  family 
diW^  '^  ^y  ^^^  name  of  Hibbard.  The  parents 
'•'iaf  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
T  in  the  East,  but  at  the  time  here  alluded  to 
belonged  to  the  United  Brethren.  Mr.  Hib- 
bard was  a  lawyer  of  good  abilities,  but  had 
abandoned  the  profession  for  the  study  of  divinity 
and  occasional  preaching.  Ilis  son  Randolph, 
studious  and  scholarly  in  his  habits,  was  also  a 
preacher  of  more  than  ordinary  promise.  Both 
father  and  son  were  members  of  Scioto  Confer- 
ence. The  young  ladies  of  the  family  were 
sprightly  and  accomplished.  They  were  objects 
of  special  attraction  to  the  young  people  of  the 
neighborhood.  Harriet,  the  oldest  of  the  girls, 
had  already  become  the  wife  of  Rev.  John  Miller, 
also  a  member  of  Scioto  Conference.  This  was  a 
well-to-do  family,  but  not  in  affluent  circum- 
stances.    It  is  easy  to  see  that  this  must  have 

50 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  51 

been  a  very  pleasant  stopping-place  for  any  one 
who  could  appreciate  refinement  and  culture.  It 
was  all  this  and  much  more  to  Mr.  Edwards,  as 
we  shall  see  presently.  While  traveling  Raccoon 
Circuit  he  frequently  stopped  with  this  family, 
and  thus  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Lucre- 
tia  llihbard,  who  was  at  that  time  teaching  school 
near  Athens,  Ohio.  Her  engaging  manners  and 
good  solid  sense  pleased  him,  and  so,  after  awhile, 
he  yiroposed  marriage;  and  his  proposal  was  ac- 
cepted. The  nuptials  were  solemnized  on  De- 
cember 10,  1839,  Rev.  W.  K  McKabe  officiating. 
This  union  proved  fortunate  in  every  respect.  Mrs. 
Edwards,  as  the  wife  of  an  itinerant,  has  ever  been 
a  devoted  and  efficient  helper.  It  was  through  her 
judicious  management  of  the  financial  afl'airs  of 
the  family  that  he  was  enabled  to  devote  himself 
exclusively  to  one  work.  She  still  lives,  in  fair 
health,  in  a  pleasant  home  at  Dayton,  Ohio. 

From  overwork  and  exposure,  and  perhaps  also 
from  a  zeal  not  always  directed  by  prudence,  the 
health  of  Mr.  Edwards  had  become  impaired. 
His  work,  especially  on  Burlington  Circuit,  had 
been  very  severe.  By  preaching,  often  in  the 
open  air,  and  in  poorly  ventilated  rooms,  he  had 
contracted  a  disease  of  the  throat,  which  now 
threatened  to  cut  short  his  useful  career.  He 
took  his  case  to  the  Lord,  as  was  his  custom  in 


62  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

all  matters,  both  temporal  and  spiritual,  and 
asked  direction.  After  getting  all  the  light  he 
could,  it  seemed  necessary  to  locate  and  await 
the  indications  of  Providence.  So  with  some 
trembling  lest  he  should  depart  from  the  way  of 
duty,  at  the  conference  of  1840  he  took  a  loca- 
tion, purposing  to  return  to  the  active  work  as 
soon  as  possible.  He  was,  however,  for  this  year 
appointed  presiding  elder  on  Jackson  Mission,  a 
small  field  lying  in  West  Virginia,  not  very  re- 
mote from  his  residence  in  Centerville,  Ohio.  In 
1841  and  1842  he  received  no  aiipointment,  but 
scarcely  passed  a  Sabbath  without  preaching.  He 
attended  all  the  annual  sessions  of  conference, 
and  now  began  to  take  a  large  part  in  the  pro- 
ceedings. Hence  his  influence  was  more  and 
more  felt. 

The  sound  judgment  of  Mr.  Edwards  led  him 
at  all  times  to  give  the  most  exact  attention  to 
the  financial  side  of  his  affairs.  True,  Mrs.  Ed- 
wards, as  before  said,  was  a  great  help  to  him 
in  this  respect.  But  he  deemed  it  necessary  to 
keep  an  eye  on  all  such  matters  himself,  knowing 
very  well  how  easy  it  is  for  a  minister  to  break 
down  in  his  work  by  not  attending  properly  to 
his  financial  affairs.  In  his  account-book,  under 
date  of  March  20,  1840,  we  have  an  illustration 
of  this  phase  of  his  life.     "  Silver  in  purse  sixty- 


.  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  63 

three  dollars,  and  paper  tliirty-one  dollars.'*  He 
then  adds  a  figare  six,  apparently  to  see  how  one 
hundred  dollars  in  assets  would  look.  Mrs.  Ed- 
wards had  added  to.  the  common  stock  what  was 
then  regarded  a  comfortable  outfit  for  house- 
keeping. 

We  have  seen  that  Mr.  Edwards  had  learned 
the  trade  of  carding  and  cloth-dressing.  Now, 
partially  broken  down  in  health,  he,  naturally 
enough,  turned  his  attention  to  this  business  as  a 
livelihood.  There  was,  "providentially,"  as  he 
called  it,  an  opening  of  this  kind  at  Centerville, 
Ohio.  So  here  he  bought,  in  1840,  a  small  card- 
ing establishment,  and  went  to  work.  The  sum- 
mer he  spent  in  the  mill,  meeting  with  quite 
good  success.  For  the  winter,  however,  he  had 
no  work.  Mrs.  Edwards  suggested  that  they 
both  teach  school.  But  how  could  one  who  had 
been  himself  in  school  so  little  become  a  teacher? 
He  could  not  think  of  it.  But  his  wife  said, 
*'  You  can, — by  getting  books,  and  study.  And 
then  you  will  have  a  little  time  for  preparation 
before  the  schools  are  to  open."  He  took  her 
advice,  and  got  a  good  certificate,  and  both 
taught.  Thus  they  managed  to  pay  for  the  little 
property  they  had  bought.  The  next  year  he 
sold  out  and  moved  to  Rushville,  Fairfield  County, 
Ohio. 


84  LIFE    OP    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

Here  lie  carried  on  tlie  carding  and  cloth-dress- 
ing business  with  enlarged  facilities,  but,  for  a 
time,  in  a  rented  establishment.  The  following 
year,  in  partnership  with  Mr.  George  Stults,  he 
bought  the  mill,  and  they  conducted  the  business 
together.  Although  busily  engaged  in  these  sec- 
ular affairs,  he  did  not  forget  his  consecration 
vows.  The  cause  of  the  Master  was  still  nearest 
his  heartl  Every  now  and  then  the  Lord  used 
him  in  starting  some  poor  soul  in  the  way  of  a 
better  life.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  his 
partner  in  business.  ISTor  was  he  negligent  in  the 
improvement  of  his  mind;  for  during  all  these 
years  he  carried  on  his  studies.  In  order  to  do 
this  he  kept  a  desk  in  the  establishment,  near  the 
place  of  his  work,  upon  which  was  always  an 
open  book.  In  this  way  he  studied  geology  and 
other  branches.  He  also  took  up  a  new  appoint- 
ment, and  formed  a  class  two  miles  from  Rush- 
ville.  He  attended  the  prayer-meetings  with  this 
class,  besides  being  present  at  the  regular  church- 
services  at  home.  It  is  to  be  remembered  that  in 
the  early  history  of  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
to  be  a  local  iircaclicr  meant  to  do  no  small 
amount  of  work.  Often  the  only  difference  be- 
tween a  local  and  a  traveling  preacher  was  that 
the  former  had  no  regular  appointment  assigned 
him,  and  served  without  pay.   The  local  preachers 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  55 

of  to-day,  however,  do  but  little  preaching,  and 
in  fact  but  little  work  of  any  kind  for  the  Master. 
Even  the  average  itinerant  of  the  present  day 
does  no  more  preaching,  or  Christian  work  gen- 
erally, than  did  Mr.  Edwards  while  local.  Be- 
sides, as  a  citizen  and  neighbor,  he  possessed  the 
highest  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  community. 
This  was  shown  him  in  many  ways,  which,  as  he 
often  said,  did  much  in  making  his  Rushville 
home  very  pleasant.  The  first  child — a  daughter 
— of  David  and  Lucretia  Edwards  was  born  here, 
in  1842.  At  the  close  of  the,  second  year  at 
Eushville  he  was  fortunate  in  completely  disen- 
o-affino;  himself  from  the  business  with  which  he 
had  been  occupied,  by  selling  out  to  his  partner. 
Ho  continued  to  live  at  llushville,  however,  till 
the  close  of  the  following  year. 

In  1843  Mr.  Edwards  was  present  at  conference 
and  prepared  to  take  work.  Providence  had 
favored  him  with  restored  health  and  with  some- 
what improved  tem})oral  circumstances.  And 
then  he  had  been  so  diligent  in  stud}',  and  had  so 
thoroughly  maintained  the  spirit  of  devotion  in 
his  heart,  that,  all  things  considered,  he  was  now 
better  prepared  for  the  active  work  of  the  minis- 
try than  ever  before.  He  seemed  especially  to 
have  acquired  more  self-control  in  preaching.  He 
was  appointed  to  Muskingum  Circuit,  with  Jesse 


66  LIFE    OP   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

"Wilson  as  colleague,  each  of  these  devoted  men 
being  greatly  favored  by  the  companionship  and 
influence  of  the  other.  The  circuit  was  unusually 
large,  even  for  those  early  times.  It  was  said  to 
be  five  hundred  miles  around,  and  was  very  diffi- 
cult to  travel.  At  one  time  during  the  3^ear  he 
came  to  the  Muskingum  River  when  it  was  very 
high,  and  there  being  no  bridge  by  which  to  cross 
over  and  so  reach  his  appointment  on  the  other 
side,  he  did  not  know  at  first  what  to  do.  It 
seemed  especially  necessary  to  reach  the  appoint- 
ment, because  it  was  intended  to  be  the  first  of  a 
protracted  efl:brt.  So,  after  a  careful  examina- 
tion of  the  situation,  he  placed  his  saddle-bags 
on  his  shoulder  and  swam  the  horse  to  the  oppo- 
site bank,  and  then  went  on  to  his  appointment 
and  preached  in  frozen  clothes.  This  adventure 
being  known,  the  people  were  more  than  ever 
drawn  to  him,  and  an  excellent  revival  ensued. 

The  kind  of  discipline  exercised  by  Mr.  Ed- 
wards while  on  this  circuit  may  be  seen  by 
reference  to  records  still  preserved.  A  few  cases 
may  not  be  out  of  place.  "  Mrs.  M.  charged  with 
swearing,  but  denies  the  charge.  No  witnesses. 
Case  laid  over  till  next  round."  Next  round. 
"Her  case  resumed,  and  she  expelled."  "J.  M. 
charged  with  fighting  and  quarreling  with  his 
family.     Partly  denies  the  charge.     Promises  to 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  57 

try  to  amend,  and  the  class  bears  with  him." 
**  G.  S.  charged  with  whipping  his  wife  and  play- 
ing the  fiddle.  Confesses  to  the  latter.  The  first, 
he  says,  is  none  of  our  business.  Charges  sus- 
tained. Expelled."  We  see  here  that  Mr.  Ed- 
wards believed  that  ministers  should  correct  such 
-abuses,  and  that  the  church  was  never  intended 
for  such  trashy  and  wicked  men.  An  example  is 
given  of  a  class  of  one  hundred  members  being 
broken  up — not  during  this  year,  however, — be- 
cause discipline,  though  called  for  by  him  and 
others,  was  not  enforced.  Eighty-nine  membera 
were  received  during  this  year.  His  salary  was 
one  hundred  and  seventy-two  dollars  and  forty- 
seven  cents. 

During  the  intervals  of  the  General  conferences, 
the  Scioto  Conference,  for  many  years,  had  the 
special  oversight  and  control  of  the  publishing 
house  at  Circleville,  Ohio.  So  in  the  exercise  of 
this  power,  Scioto  Conference,  in  1839,  put  a 
stop  to  the  discussion  of  the  slavery  question  in 
the  columns  of  the  Religious  Telescope.  This,  Mr. 
Edwards,  with  a  few  others,  denounced  as  "  bad 
policy,  and  unrighteous  in  the  sight  of  God." 
His  appeal  was  most  eloquent  and  touching,  espe- 
cially when  he  comi)ared  this  downward  move- 
ment of  the  Church  to  the  setting  of  the  sun  in 
darkness.     His  nobleness  of  nature  never  shone 


58  LIFE    OP    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

with  more  splendor  than  on  this  occasion.  This 
misguided  policy,  however,  prevailed  until  1844, 
at  which  time  this  "odious  gag-rule"  was  forever 
removed  from  the  Religious  Telescope,  by  a  large 
vote  of  the  conference.  Mr.  Edwards  did  much 
to  bring  this  about.  For  the  next  year  he  was 
appointed  to  Circleville  Station.  This  was  one 
of  the  most  important  charges  in  the  conference. 
Important  church  -  interests  were  being  concen- 
trated here.  Station-work  was  yet  new  in  the 
Church.  Of  course,  he  moved  his  family  at  once 
to  Circleville.  There  were  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-tivc  members  belonging  to  the  charge,  at  the 
time  he  commenced  his  labors;  and,  during  the 
year,  forty-two  were  received.  The  salary  amount- 
ed to  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  dollars  and 
sixty-one  cents,  and  the  presents  to  thirty-eight 
dollars  and  seventy-five  cents.  This  was  the  only 
year  in  his  entire  ministry  when  he  did  not  lay  up 
something  from  his  salary.  Mr.  Edwards  had 
just  completed  his  twenty-seventh  year  when  he 
was  appointed  to  Circleville  Station.  As  to  the 
man,  he  was  still  the  same  that  he  was  ten  years 
before  when  he  became  a  Christian,  lie  was  a 
man  of  marked  individuality.  He  was  Edwards, 
— always  Edwards.  Everything  that  he  said  and 
did  was  characteristic.  Hence  what  would  have 
been  trifles  with  others  were  not  so  with  him. 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  59 

But  the  accidents  of  the  bashful  factory-boj  were 
being  laid  aside.  The  moral  and  spiritual  ele- 
ments of  his  nature  were  now  coming  into  full 
play.  The  devotion,  struggle,  and  one  might 
almost  say  the  agony,  of  years,  were  beginning 
to  present  some  of  their  ripened  fruit.  The  man 
who  a  short  time  before  had  shrunk  back  from 
all  strange  contact  as  from  death  itself,  now  began 
to  see  in  the  faces  and  hearts  of  his  fellow-men 
what  might  awaken  compassion,  but  could  not 
move  to  fear.  He  had  faced  and  studied  the 
problem  of  man's  nature  and  condition,  and  why 
should  he  fear  the  face  of  man?  The  Lord  was 
evidently  leading  him  to  a  higher  plane  of  thought 
and  action ;  and  this  made  him  fearless  and 
mighty  in  his  work.  The  editor  of  the  Religious 
Telescope,  at  the  time,  thus  speaks  of  his  pas- 
torate :  "  Our  present  very  worthy  pastor.  Rev. 
D.  Edwards,  is  very  well  received.  Those  who 
attend  his  ministry  appear  to  be  very  much  de- 
lighted with  his  cogent,  pointed,  and  spiritual 
sermons.  Large  and  increasing  congregations 
attend  his  ministry."  During  the  winter  of  this 
year  Mr.  Edwards  was  awakened  one  night  by 
the  thought  of  Rev.  Jesse  Wilson,  his  colleague 
of  the  previous  year,  who  was  now  in  the  last 
stages  of  consumption.  He  said  to  his  wife, 
"  Why  may  not  Jesse  and  his  wife  come  and  stay 


60  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

with  US?"  The  auswer  was  favorable;  and  the 
next  morning,  before  breakfast,  he  went  down  to 
Mr.  Wilson's  and  told  him  of  his  thoughts  in  the 
night,  and  of  what  he  had  now  to  propose.  Mr. 
AVilson  replied,  "As  I  was  lying  awake  last  night, 
I  wondered  if  you  would  not  let  us  come  and  live 
with  you,  and  let  me  die  at  your  house,"  The 
two  families  lived  together;  and  Mr.  Edwards 
often  said  that  Jesse  kept  the  door  of  heaven 
open  to  them  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred February  first  of  the  same  winter. 

While  at  Circleville,  he  made  an  immense  ad- 
vance in  spiritual  stature.  From  this  time  dates 
his  profession  of  entire  sanctification ;  and  without 
discussing  theories  here,  he  undoubtedly  entered 
upon  a  new  era  in  his  religious  life.  The  -flame 
of  his  devotion  was  more  intense,  purer,  stead- 
ier, sending  its  blessings  more  abroad,  and  saving 
less  for  self,  than  ever  before.  He  had  carefully 
read  and  much  admired  the  writings  of  Wesley 
and  his  followers  on  the  subject  of  sanctification. 
*'  Principles  of  the  Interior  or  Hidden  Life,"  by 
Prof.  Upham,  and  "Life  and  Eeligious  Opinions  of 
Madame  Guyon,"  and  others  of  like  kind,  were 
his  favorite  books.  Not  a  few  of  the  members  of 
his  charge,  as  well  as  others,  fully  sympathized 
with  him  in  these  tendencies  and  struggles  of  his 
mind  and   heart.     This   was   especially   true   of 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  61 

Jesse  "Wilson.     The  influence  of  this  godly  man 
upon  the  mind  of  Mr.  Edwards  was  indeed  very 
great.     In   the  struggles  and  yearnings  of  their 
kindred   spirits    they   mutually   stimulated   each 
other.     Mr.  Wilson  professed  to  obtain  the  bless- 
ing of  entire    sanctification    on   Christmas-day, 
1844,  while  lying  sick  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Ed- 
wards.    This  was  regarded  as  a  triumphant  vin- 
dication of  the  doctrine  taught  by  these  good 
men ;  namely,  that  entire  sanctification  is  by  faith 
in  Christ  and  attainable  before  death.     As  the 
friends  of  Mr.    Wilson  gathered  around  him  he 
said,  calmly,  "  All,  all  is  now  peace.     Rest,  my 
soul,  in  Jesus.     Glory,  glory  to  God  in  the  high- 
est."   The  experience  of  Mr.  Edwards  can  best  be 
read  in  his  own  simple  and  fervid  language.  "  On 
the  second  day  of  January,  1845,  having  an  ap- 
pointment a  few  miles  in  the  country,  I  started 
about   sundown,    exceedingly    oppressed   with   a 
sense  of  my  unworthiness  and  unholiness.    While 
reflecting  upon  how  poorly  qiuililied  I  was,  with 
such  an  unholy  heart,  to  preach  a  pure  gospel 
to    others,   it  was  suggested, — 'You  have  been 
seeking   a   clean   heart  for   ten   years,    and  you 
are  further  from  it  now   than  ever  before.     You 
had  better  now  give  it  up,  and  not  make  a  fool 
of  yourself  and   expose  yourself  to  persecution. 
Why  not  live  peaceably  as  most  Christians  live?' 


62  LIFE    OF    UISUOP    EDWARDS. 

I  answered,  'God  says,  Be  ye  holy,  and  it  is 
plainly  my  duty  to  seek  it  and  obtain  it,  whether 
others  do  or  not.' 

"  The  next  suggestion  was, — for  by  this  time  the 
thoughts  presented  to  mind  occupied  my  entire 
attention,  as  much  so  as  if  I  had  heard  an  audi- 
ble voice, — '  If  it  is  by  faith,  you  may  have  it  now 
before  you  preach,'  and  I  began  to  pray.  In  an 
instant  these  words  were  presented  to  my  mind 
as  never  before;  'Ask  and  receive.'  'Why,  Lord,' 
said  I,  '  I  have  asked  a  thousand  times.'  '  True,' 
said  the  inward  voice,  'You  asked,  but  you  have 
not  received  or  taken  the  ofiered  blessing.'  I  at 
once  saw  the  difficulty.  At  that  instant  a  revela- 
tion was  given  upon  the  subject  of  faith  which 
was  worth  more  to  me  than  all  the  theology  I 
€ver  read  upon  it.  I  remembered  many  a  time 
in  my  former  history  when  the  blessing  was  in 
reach.  I  could,  as  it  were,  see  it,  and  almost  say, 
it  is  mine.  But  this  receiving  faith  was  wantinar. 
1  saw  the  blessing  held  out,  and  with  melting 
heart  and  tearful  eyes  said,  'Lord,  I  do  receive, — 
I  am  thine  and  thou  art  mine!'  It  was  enough. 
My  heart  was  filled  with  love.  '  Glory  to  God.* 
That  was  a  great  turning-point  in  my  religious 
life.  I  had  from  that  hour  a  depth  of  peace,  a 
constancy  of  faith,  and  a  clearness  of  views  of 
divine  providence  never  before  enjoyed.     What- 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  Q'^ 

ever  inconsistencies  may  have  marked  my  life 
since  that  time,  I  am  convinced  that  the  above 
was  a  real  and  scriptural  experience.  And  my 
only  regret  now  is,  after  nearly  sixteen  years, 
that  I  have  not  made  more  proficiency  in  it,  and 
lived  it  out  more  pcrfectlj'.  But  to-day  I  stand 
on  the  same  platform,  and  the  merciful  Savior 
who  saved  me  then  kindly  pardons  all  past  delin- 
quencies, and  is  still  the  strength  of  my  heart, 
and  my  portion  forever.  Glory  to  his  holy 
name."  This  quotation  is  lengthy;  but  it  could 
not  well  be  omitted,  or  abridged.  It  is  therefore 
given  entire.  It  reveals  most  clearly  the  triumph 
of  God's  grace  in  the  heart  of  his  servant.  Many 
have  heard  him  tell  this  simple  story  with  throb- 
bing hearts  aud  tearful  eyes.  And  no  wonder; 
for  it  lets  in  a  flood  of  light  upon  the  great  ques- 
tion of  salvation  by  faith,  and  faith  only. 

At  the  conference  of  1845  Mr.  Edwards  was 
elected  presiding  elder,  and  assigned  to  Circle- 
ville  District.  As  the  district  was  small,  or  rather 
fractional,  the  prospect  of  support  was  very  poor. 
On  learning  of  the  appointment,  Mrs.  Edwards 
cried  all  night.  Mr.  Edwards  said,  "We  will 
trust  God."  But  she  said,  "  We  must  use  some 
sense."  lie  replied,  "  To  trust  God  is  sensible." 
So  he  began  his  work  with  firm  trust  and  resolu- 
tion; but  the  General  Conference,  which  soon  met 
in  Circleville,  had  for  him  a  different  field. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Elected  Editor— Incidents — Education— Missions'— Holiness- 
Character. 

"I HE  General  Conference  met  at  Circle- 
I  ville,  Ohio,  in  May,  1845,  at  wKich  time 

"  '^  Mr.  Edwards  was  elected  editor  of  the 
Religious    Telescope,   much   to  his   surprise. 

We  may  be  sure  that  he  never  sought  the 
position;  nor  did  he  want  it  when  proffered.  In 
fact  he  was  slow  to  believe  that  this  was  any 
part  of  his  calling.  His  experience  in  writing, 
up  to  this  time,  was  indeed  very  limited.  He 
had  contributed  a  few  articles  to  the  church- 
paper,  but  these  had  not  attracted  much  notice. 
He  certainly  had  no  general  reputation  as  a 
writer,  at  the  time  he  entered  this  field.  He  was 
already  a  great  preacher,  and  widely  known  as 
such.  He  was  at  home  in  the  pulpit.  This  was 
felt  and  acknowledged  by  all  who  knew  him. 
"Why  can  he  not  write  as  well  as  speak?"  said 
an  influential  member  of   General  Conference, 

♦*Let  us  try  him,"  said  another.    And  so  it  was 

64 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  65 

agreed  all  around.  After  his  election  he  said, 
"Writing  goes  hard  with  me;  but  no  matter,  the 
Lord  is  my  helper."  This  appointment  gave  uni- 
versal-satisfaction. All  seemed  to  feel  that  the 
new  editor  had  something  to  say.  This  proved 
to  be  true;  for  the  same  clearness  and  energy 
that  had  characterized  his  preaching  re-appeared 
in  the  use  of  the  pen. 

The  Telescope  was  in  its  eleventh  volume  when 
Mr.  Edwards  took  charge  of  it.  It  had  passed 
through  great  trials,  and  many  vicissitudes,  but 
had  made  some  advancement.  The  paper  had 
never  met  with  any  direct  opposition.  Still,  its 
circulation  was  very  limited.  The  Church  had  not 
yet  learned  the  value  of  this  kind  of  literature. 
Besides,  the  want  of  experience  on  the  part  of 
those  who  had  in  charge  the  special  manage- 
ment of  the  paper  occasioned  much  embarrass- 
ment to  the  enterprise.  This  was  especially  true 
during  the  editorial  career  of  Rev.  William  Rhine- 
hart.  It  was  also  difficult  to  secure  suitable  com- 
munications for  the  paper.  A  former  editor,  as  a 
reason  for  rejecting  certain  articles  sent  for  pub- 
lication, said,  "They  contain  nothing  but  what 
has  been  treated  in  a  more  able  and  masterly 
manner.  We  have  not  time  to  revise,  or  in  fact 
to  remodel,  a  host  of  scribbled  errors.  Other 
articles  contain  nothing  but  invective  and  criti- 


66  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

cism;  and  others  there  are  that  contain  senti- 
ments contrary  to  our  views  of  divine  things." 
The  old  tiles  of  the  Telescope  indicated  a  decided 
preference,  on  the  part  of  the  managers,  for 
dissertations  instead  of  editorials,  for  selections 
rather  than  correspondence,  and  for  general  and 
distant  topics  instead  of  those  arising  from  the 
immediate  aflairs  of  the  Church.  These  defects 
had  become  quite  apparent,  to  many  at  least,  at 
the  time  Mr.  Edwards  was  called  to  take  charge 
of  the  paper.  He  soon  discovered  them,  and  with 
his  accustomed  energy  and  spirit  at  once  sought 
a  reformation.  The  change  of  the  Telescope  to  an 
organ  of  the  Cliurch,  and  for  the  Church,  had 
already  been  made,  but  was  now  more  fully  recog- 
nized and  emphasized.  It  most  thoroughly  sus- 
tained the  position  the  Church  had  taken  against 
aggressive  war,  intemperance,  slavery,  and  secret 
societies.  But  what  was  more  and  better,  the 
Telescope,  under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Edwards, 
taught  the  Church  that  the  position  it  had  taken 
against  the  evils  of  the  times  could  not  be  main- 
tained without  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  This 
was  urged,  in  the  paper,  with  great  power  and 
eft'ectiveness. 

The  work  of  editing  and  publishing  had  previ- 
ously been  performed  by  the  same  person.  Hence- 
forth there  was  to  be  a  special  publishing  agent. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  m 

This  was  a  long  step  forward  in  tlie  business 
afl'airs  of  the  office.  It  also  relieved  the  new 
editor  of  that  kind  of  work  which  had  so  greatly 
embarrassed  his  predecessors.  The  ruinous  credit- 
system  was  to  give  place  to  a  cash  subscription 
list.  This,  too,  was  a  move  in  the  right  direction. 
Up  to  this  time  the  Tclescoioe  had  been  a  semi- 
monthly; it  was  now  to  be  a  weekly.  All  these 
changes  indicated  very  gratifying  progress.  The 
subscription  list,  however,  was  only  thirty-one 
hundred.  The  salary  of  the  editor,  including 
certain  contingent  expenses,  was  three  hundred 
iind  fifty  dollars,  with  ho  use- rent  free.  This  was 
meager, — too  meager,  in  fact,  to  be  called  a  salary, 
— but  it  did  not  discourage  him.  He  considered 
the  very  little  support  his  brethren  in  the  itiner- 
ant ranks  were  receiving,  and  said,  "It  will  do; 
let  us  go  to  work."  A  brave  and  earnest  man  was 
now  at  the  helm.  This  was  apparent  to  all.  But 
the  sea  was  still  rough.  At  least  some  of  the 
difliculties  in  conducting  the  paper  yet  remained. 
The  work  was  new  to  the  Church,  and  newer  still 
to  Mr.  Edwards.  lie  had  everything  to  learn  and 
but  few  to  help  him.  Suitable  correspondents 
could  not  easily  be  found.  A  large  majority  of 
those  who  attempted  to  write  for  the  paper  were 
poorly  fitted  for  anything  of  the  kind.  This 
greatly  discouraged   him.     He   said,   "They  are 


68  LIFE   OF   BISHOP  EDWARDS. 

generally  poor,  staggering  efforts."  But  this  was 
not  the  worst  feature  in  the  case;  a  bad  spirit 
was  often  manifested.  "  Many  of  the  preachers," 
said  he,  "  are  sensitive,  and  determined  to  have 
the  last  word.  They  want  everything  to  be  stated 
exactly  as  it  is."  Apparently  in  reply  to  these 
grumbling  correspondents  he  said,  "All  this  comes 
from  an  unsanctified  heart.  Oh,  beware  of  pride! 
Let  there  be  in  you  that  lowly  mind  which  was 
in  Jesus  Christ.  And  be  ye  likewise  clothed  with 
humility.  Let  it  not  only  fill,  but  cover  you  all 
over.  Let  modesty  and  self-diffidence  appear  in 
all  your  words  and  actions.  Let  all  you  speak 
and  do  show  that  you  are  little  and  base  and 
mean  and  vile  in  your  own  eyes."  These  burn- 
ing words  expressed  the  feelings  of  his  own  heart. 
It  was  not  so  much  a  theory  as  a  practice  with 
him.  In  fact,  the  Lord  had  taught  him  how  to 
abase  himself  at  the  time  ho  experienced  the 
great  blessing  of  a  full  salvation. 

In  his  first  editorial  Mr.  Edwards  said,  "  Cus- 
tom makes  it  the  duty  of  those  who  enter  the 
editorial  ranks  to  give  a  brief  statement  of  their 
feelings  and  views  in  reference  to  tlieir  fnture 
course.  In  accordance  with  this  custom  we  ap- 
pear before  you,  in  the  language  of  Iloly  Writ,  iu 
weakness  and  in  fear  and  in  much  trembling." 
From  the  first,  his  strong  presence  was  stamped 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  69 

upon  the  columns  of  the  Telescope.  Henceforth 
the  different  departments  of  the  paper  arose 
to  increasing  distinctness.  From  its  earliest  his- 
tory it  had  been  an  earnest  reform-sheet.  This 
policy  was  continued  by  Mr.  Edwards.  Hence, 
temperance,  national  peace,  anti  -  tobacco,  anti- 
secrecy,  and  antislavery,  all  received  the  support 
of  a  warm  heart  and  a  trenchant  pen.  Yet  effort 
at  specific  reform  was  made  much  less  prominent 
than  the  effort  to  secure  the  renovation  of  the 
individual  heart,  and  thus  the  purification  of  all 
the  features  of  life.  Neither  agitation  nor  specu- 
lation for  their  own  sake  found  any  welcome. 
The  demand  was  for  "  soul,  point,  and  practical 
utility."  "  "We  must,"  said  the  editor,  "  draw  the 
reins  a  little  closer.  The  Telescope  must  have 
soul.  Each  article  must  have  an  object  in  view. 
Salvation  should  be  marked  upon  each  article, 
and  burn  in  every  line.  The  Lord  baptize  anew 
the  editor  and  each  correspondent."  His  own 
spirit  is  clearly  manifested  in  words  used  during 
his  first  year.  The  Scioto  Conference,  which  was 
intrusted  with  large  supervision  over  the  Tele- 
scope in  the  intervals  of  the  General  Conference, 
met  after  he  had  been  in  the  editorial  cliair  four 
months.  Writing  from  the  conference-room  he 
said,  "  What  the  conference  may  do  with  the 
Telescope  and  its  imperfect  editor  is  hard  to  deter- 


70  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

mine  yet ;  but  we  expect  some  censure,  as  some 
dissatisfaction  has  been  heard.  With  this  we 
have  nothing  to  do;  we  have  done  the  best  we 
could  under  the  circumstances.  If  the  brethren 
say  the  editor  is  a  poor  one  and  unworthy  of 
such  a  place,  we  will  have  no  controversy  with 
them;  for  it  is  every  word  true."  He  dreaded 
the  disapprobation  of  his  brethren,  and  sought  in 
every  reasonable  way  to  please  them.  But  from 
his  own  views  of  right  and  duty  he  would  not 
swerve.  At  the  close  of  his  first  year  as  editor  he 
said,  "Duty  teaches  us  that  to  please  all  we  dare 
not  if  we  could,  and  experience  teaches  that  we 
can  not  if  we  would.  No  editor  can  maintain  a 
conscience  void  of  ofi'ense  toward  God  and  man 
without  opposing  sin  and  error.  To  those  who 
have  blamed  our  course  in  things  as  to  which  we 
can  not  conscientiously  change  we  would  say, 
brethren,  bear  with  us,  and  pray  for  us.  Friendly 
advice,  reproof,  dictation,  and  fault-finding  will 
all  be  received  by  us  and  turned  to  as  good  ac- 
count as  we  are  capable  of  turning  them;  and  we 
will  endeavor  to  receive  all  in  meekness,  and  love 
our  brethren  afterward  as  before.  Faith  and 
love  will  turn  everything  to  our  benefit,  whether 
pleasing  or  displeasing  to  the  natural  man." 

Many  of  his  editorials  are  worthy  a  place  in 
permanent  literature.     While  absolutely  destitute 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWAKDS.  71 

of  all  pretense,  tliey  really  discuss  living  issues 
from  their  true  underlying  principles.  They  do 
not  savor  of  wearisome  labor,  but  of  a  spirit  that 
turns  all  duty  into  earnest  and  joyous  exertion. 
He  did  not  excel  in  the  sphere  of  speculative 
thought.  In  fact  he  did  not  care  to  enter  this 
field.  And  yet  some  of  his  sayings  let  in  more 
light  on  such  subjects  than  all  the  labored  efibrta 
of  the  more  learned.  But  his  busy  life  and  a 
practical  turn  of  mind  alike  led  him  to  view 
every  question  in  the  light  of  utility.  Pure  ab- 
stract reasoning  he  called  "  hair-splitting."  His 
intellect,  however,  was  keen  and  original  in  its 
operations.  Hence  he  could  "split  a  hair  "  when- 
ever the  argument  in  hand  seemed  to  require  it. 
And  this  he  often  did  without  claiming  to  be 
precise. 

This  portion  of  Mr.  Edwards'  life  was  too 
much  swallowed  up  in  his  main  work  to  afford 
much  of  incident,  yet  some  incidents  have  been 
preserved.  He  was  once  laboring  over  ^n  illegi- 
ble and  confused  manuscript  on  faith,  when  a 
brother  minister  came  in.  "  See  here,"  said  he  to 
the  brother.  "  You  sit  down  and  write  the  best 
article  you  can  on  faith  and  sign  that  man's  name 
to  it."  The  order,  after  a  little  hesitation,  was 
obeyed,  and  the  article  as  written  and  signed  ap- 
peared in  the  paper.    It  was  his  custom  to  preach 


72  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

somewhere  every  Sabbath  during  his  editorial 
career.  His  services,  of  course,  were  in  great 
demand.  He  had  preached  at  one  point  in  the 
country  quite  frequently,  and  had  often  been  in- 
vited to  the  house  of  a  wealthy  member  of  the 
church,  a  farmer,  living  near  by.  But  for  some 
reason,  not  very  apparent  to  all,  Mr.  Edwards  did 
not  accept  this  proftered  hospitality.  It  was 
generally  known,  however,  that  this  man  was  so 
stingy  that  he  usually  sought  some  occasion  for 
falling  out  with  the  circuit  preacher,  that  he 
might  have  a  better  excuse  for  not  paying  any- 
thing on  the  salary.  He  at  the  same  time  could 
palaver  over  preachers  that  were  not  to  be  paid, 
thereby  keeping  up  somewhat  his  reputation  for 
religion.  Mr.  Edwards  saw  through  this  mean- 
ness, and  resolved  to  rebuke  it.  So  the  next  time 
when  the  stingy  man  crowded  forward  before 
every  one  else  to  invite  him  to  his  house,  he  was 
met  with  this  answer:  "  No  sir;  I  won't  go  home 
with  you.  A  man  that  don't  pay  the  preacher,  I 
won't  go  home  with." 

At  one  time  his  customary  seriousness  was 
overcome  sufficiently  to  allow  him  to  publish, 
according  to  copy,  the  following  note,  which  was 
tacked  on  to  a  long  and  miserably  written  article: 
"We  wish  this  Published  Punctatim  orthagratim 
as  it  is  here  wrote  and  not  tow  or  three  lines  as 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  73 

theare  sometimes  is."  The  editor  may  have  in- 
tended nothing  more  than  a  little  pleasantry  in 
the  publication  of  this  note.  We  know,  at  any  rate, 
that  he  had  a  keen  relish  for  the  ludicrous  when 
not  mixed  with  moral  taint.  Like  John  Bunyan, 
he  had  a  talent  for  repartee,  and  occasionally 
indulged  in  little  sallies  of  this  kind.  His  chief 
object,  however,  seems  to  have  been  to  punish  an 
ignorant  and  contumacious  critic.  This  view  of 
the  case  accords  with  his  well-known  disposition 
to  expose  all  kinds  of  hollow-hearted  pretense. 

Neither  the  first  nor  the  second  person  appointed 
publishing  agent  accepted  the  office.  This  made 
it  difficult,  for  a  time,  to  fill  the  place  acceptably. 
Hence  more  work  devolved  on  the  editor.  This 
made  it  necessary  for  Mr.  Edwards  to  attend 
various  conferences,  east  and  west,  on  business  of 
the  office.  He  thus  attended  Virginia  Conference, 
at  Hebron,  Maryland,  in  1847.  He  had  previously 
offended  a  majority  of  this  conference  by  his 
radical  utterances  on  the  slavery  question.  At 
the  time  of  this  visit  the  conference  was  embar- 
rassed by  some  "  peculiar  cases  "  of  slave-holding, 
for  which  apologists  were  not  wanting.  On  the 
conference-floor  one  member  showed  his  temerity 
by  trying  to  justify  the  "domestic  institution" 
from  the  Bible.  This  was  more  than  Mr.  Edwards 
could  well  bear;  so  he  at  once  charged  the  mem- 


74  LIFI-:    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

ber  with  "  lieresy."  This,  of  course,  produced  no 
little  excitement.  In  this  condition  of  things  he 
was  asked  to  preach.  He  consented,  but  with 
some  fear  and  trembling.  lie  had  already  been 
the  object  of  light  and  cutting  remarks  from  a 
certain  element  of  the  conference.  This  weighed 
heavily  upon  his  heart.  So,  according  to  his 
custom,  he  withdrew  to  wrestle  and  plead  for  the 
presence  and  help  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  his  ser- 
mon. Nor  did  he  plead  in  vain.  He  was  just 
about  to  go  into  the  pulpit  when  a  company  of 
ministers  showered  upon  him  their  darts,  feath- 
ered with  levit}',  but  pointed  and  envenomed  by 
hatred  of  abolitionism.  Being  grieved,  he  turned 
to  them  and  said,  "  Brethren,  I  don't  see  how  you 
can  preach."  He  said,  "  At  that  moment  I  felt 
that  God  had  given  me  the  victory."  It  was 
indeed  a  victory  in  his  own  spirit,  at  least,  which 
was  clearly  manifested  in  his  preaching;  for  the 
Lord  blessed  wonderfully  the  word  as  spoken 
that  night  by  his  faithful  servant.  It  is  related 
that  while  in  Virginia,  during  tliis  trip,  he  sought 
to  sell  his  horse,  and  return  home  by  public  con- 
veyance. It  was  difficult,  however,  to  find  one 
who  was  desirous  of  owning  the  horse  of  such  an 
abolitionist.  Virginia  Conference,  the  next  year^ 
by  resolution,  complained  of  the  editor,  though 
some   of    the   members    boldly   cast   their   votes 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWAKDS.  75 

against  sucla  a  course.  This  unpleasantness,  how- 
ever, soon  passed  away,  and  Virginia  Conference 
ever  afterward  treated  him  with  marked  defer- 
ence and  respect. 

Mr.  Edwards,  during  his  term  as  editor,  was 
afflicted  for  two  years  with  very  severe  attacks  of 
neuralgia.  His  strength  was  thus  being  Avorn 
out,  and  his  labor  seriously  interfered  with.  Dur- 
ing his  attacks,  which  occurred  with  increasing 
frequency  and  violence,  he  could  do  nothing. 
The  remedies  required  for  relief  became  quite  as 
much  to  be  feared  as  the  disease  itself.  One  Sab- 
bath, being  detained  from  church  by  one  of  hia 
attacks,  he  began  to  think  of  what  is  said  in  the 
New  Testament  about  the  cure  of  diseased  per- 
sons. He  remembered  that  Jesus  "treated  all 
manner  of  diseases  among  the  people."  Some 
of  the  cases  that  were  helped  were  much  like  his. 
Then  the  thought  came  to  him,  "Why  can  not 
Jesus  cure  the  people  now?"  Sure  enough;  he 
began  to  think  almost  audibly.  "And  then,"  he 
said  to  himself,  "it  is  not  more  difficult  to  cure 
bodily  diseases  than  pardon  sin.  Why  can  he 
not  cure  me?"  was  the  next  question.  Quickly 
came  the  reply,  "I  have  not  asked  him."  He  was 
astonished.  He  fell  on  his  knees  and  asked  the 
great  Physician  to  heal  him.  As  he  prayed  all 
sense  of  his  disease  departed,  and  for  more  than 


76  LEFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

twenty-five  years  no  sign  of  it  returned.  It  is 
not  necessary  to  affirm  or  deny  that  this  was  a 
miracle.  The  fact  alone  is  stated,  and  the  reader 
left  to  judge  for  himself.  That  he  found  a  cure 
in  the  way  described  is  indisputable.  We  may 
be  sure,  moreover,  that  divine  Providence  had  a 
hand  in  it.  It  was  God's  way  in  bringing  relief 
to  his  servant.  Mr.  Edwards  never  connected 
the  case  with  any  special  doctrine  or  theory  of 
religion.  Whenever  he  referred  to  it  he  simply 
said,  "The  Lord  did  it."  Those  who  deny  spe- 
cial providence  and  the  power  of  faith,  only  say 
that  they  themselves  are  not  in  a  region  where  a 
living  God  can  bless  them,  or  where  they  have  to 
do  with  anything  more  than  natural  laws. 

The  subject  of  education  in  the  Church  was 
first  made  prominent  during  the  period  under 
review.  The  General  Conference,,  in  1845,  had 
signified  its  favor  of  educational  institutions 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Church.  Hence,  in  the 
fall  of  1846,  measures  were  first  taken  by  Scioto 
Conference,  other  conferences  soon  co-operating, 
which  resulted  in  the  founding  of  Otterbein  Uni- 
versity. Other  movements  of  like  kind  soon 
followed  in  rapid  succession.  The  work  was  new 
to  the  Church,  and  needed  the  support  of  wise 
heads  and  awakened  hearts.  While  it  can  not 
be  said  in  truth  that  Mr.  Edwards  threw  himself 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWAUDS.  77 

into  this  movement  with  as  much  zeal  as  some 
others,  he  nevertheless  gave  it  an  earnest  and 
efficient  support.  His  services  were  especially 
valuable  in  showing  the  importance  of  maintain- 
ing a  close  connection  between  education  and 
vital  godliness.  This  was  his  chief  concern  when 
he  saw  the  Church  commit  itself  to  this  great 
work.  All  his  editorials  and  public  addresses  on 
this  subject  clearly  show  that  this  was  uppermost 
in  his  mind.  He  said,  "  "We  must  educate,  to  be 
sure,  but  not  for  its  own  sake.  It  is  not  to  be 
sought  as  an  end,  but  rather  as  a  means  to  glorify 
God  and  bless  mankind."     He  was  right. 

The  Telescope  ably  supported  the  cause  of  mis- 
sions. The  work,  however,  was  carried  on  mostly 
by  the  annual  conferences,  the  general  Board 
that  was  organized  in  1841  doing  nothing.  The 
Church  felt  but  little  interest  in  frontier  and  for- 
eign missions.  Nor  was  there  much  being  done 
in  the  home  field.  Mr.  Edwards  sought  to  arouse 
the  Church  from  this  deadly  slumber.  He  asked, 
"  Why  this  lack  of  consecration  to  a  cause  of  so 
much  importance?"  Several  reasons  were  as- 
signed in  a  stirring  editorial.  "  First,  a  want  of 
information  concerning  the  state  of  the  world, 
and  the  little  interest  the  preachers  feel  on  the 
subject.  And  then  there  is  not  that  taste  for 
reading  among  us  that  there  ought  to  be.    Eooka 


78  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

and  periodicals  are  not  so  highly  prized  as  they 
should  be.  "We  never  shall  be  liberal  enough  to 
do  much  as  missionaries  until  books  and  papers 
find  in  us  a  warmer  embrace.  Intelligence,  liber- 
ality, and  virtue  generally  go  hand  in  hand." 
After  stating  some  other  reasons  for  this  lack  of 
interest  in  the  work  of  missions  he  said,  "Shall 
this  state  of  things  continue  among  us?  Will  we 
disgrace  the  name  we  bear  by  a  carelessness  and 
indifference  to  the  wants  of  the  world  in  ruins? 
Will  we  coolly  look  on  while  our  sister  churches 
are  sending  forth  missionaries  to  every  corner  of 
our  earth,  at  home  and  abroad?  Will  we  disre- 
gard the  command  of  Christ,  '  Go  ye  into  all  the 
world,'  when  we  have  both  the  money  and  the 
men?  Oh,  for  a  mighty  waking  up  on  the  subject 
among  preachers  and  members,  until  the  mission- 
ary fire  burns  in  one  universal,  stead}^  flame  of 
zeal  throughout  the  Church!  We  must  write  and 
pray  and  preach  and  give  till  the  whole  Church 
becomes  a  missionary  society.  Then  and  not  till 
then  will  we  imitate  our  Savior  and  his  early  dis- 
ciples." This  short  extract  is  taken  from  one  of 
his  many  eloquent  appeals  to  the  Church  on  this 
subject.  He  was  himself  an  example  of  that 
*' steady  flame"  of  missionary  zeal  which  he 
longed  to  see  characterize  the  whole  Church. 
But  the  great  subject  on  which  the  mind  and 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  79 

heart  of  Mr.  Edwards  were  employed  more  than 
any  other,  indeed  more  than  all  others,  especially 
during  the  period  over  which  we  are  now  pass- 
ing, was  holiness  of  heart  and  life.  This  was  his 
central  thought  on  all  questions  of  church-life 
and  spirit.  In  this  field,  at  least,  he  was  at  home. 
And  no  wonder,  for  it  was  with  him  a  rich ,  ex- 
perience. He  made  the  Telescope  ring  with  this 
subject  as  it  never  did  before  nor  has  since.  It 
inspired  his  best  editorials,  and  governed  very 
largely  the  selections  made.  The  proclamation 
of  the  subject  in  his  first  editorial  became  the 
key-note  for  correspondents  throughout  the  entire 
term.  In  a  word,  everything  was  made  to  bend  to 
this  oue  all-absorbing  theme.  No  mind  was  ever 
more  indefatigably  employed,  no  heart  ever  more 
fully  poured  out,  in  connection  with  the  definition 
and  advocacy  of  this  doctrine,  than  were  the  mind 
and  heart  of  David  Edwards.  It  is  doubtful  if 
the  particular  doctrine  ot  entire  sanctification  has 
ever  been  stated  more  clearly,  more  profoundly, 
and  in  a  way  less  liable  to  objection,  than  as 
stated  by  him.  One  of  the  proofs  is  that  he  car- 
ried with  him,  in  this  movement,  so  many  of  the 
best  minds  in  the  Church,  and  that,  of  those  who 
were  not  convinced,  so  few  ventured  to  oppose 
him. 

He  was  very  early  convinced  of  the  necessity 


80  LIFE   OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

of  seeking  that  state  of  grace  known  as  entire 
Banctification,  or  holiness  of  heart.  lEis  close 
connection  with  Jesse  "Wilson,  and  others  of  like 
experience,  largely  inlluenced  him  in  this  direc- 
tion. He  had  also  closely  studied  and  accepted 
the  experimental  and  practical  views  of  John 
Wesley  and  Professor  Upham.  The  works  of 
these  great  and  good  men,  with  others  of  like 
kind,  he  admired  very  much.  So  far  as  he  had 
any  theory  on  the  subject  of  holiness,  these  works 
furnished  it.  But  it  was  not  so  much  a  theory 
with  him  as  a  felt  want.  He  longed  to  be  more 
and  more  like  the  Master.  It  was,  indeed,  a 
hunger  and  a  thirst  for  righteousness.  In  this 
way  the  Lord  led  him  at  the  time  he  believed 
and  entered  in.  The  way  this  was  brought  about 
has  already  been  given  in  his  own  words,  and 
hence  need  not  be  repeated  here.  The  Scriptures 
he  studied  daily  and  systematically.  It  was  this, 
in  connection  with  his  strong  common  sense,  that 
kept  him  from  drifting  into  fanaticism  on  this 
subject.  Like  Mr.  Wesley,  he  seemed  to  know 
just  where  to  halt  in  his  views,  how  to  distin- 
guish verbal  from  real  differences  in  reference  to 
Banctification,  and  the  necessity  of  finding  a  com- 
mon agreement  with  the  undoubted  phases  of 
Christian  experience.  Herein  perceive  we  the 
rare  qualities  of  his  mind  and  heart,  and  also  the 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  81 

reason  why  liis  views  have  been  so  generally 
accepted  by  the  Church.  ISTo  one  could  doubt 
his  sincerity,  or  the  substantial  fact  of  his  experi- 
ence. It  was  from  this  stand -point  that  he 
pressed  the  question  with  so  much  power  and 
efi'ectiveness.  It  was,  indeed,  more  the  practi- 
cal results  in  others,  than  the  adoption  of  any 
theory  or  set  phrases,  that  he  sought.  He  would 
not  follow  a  theory  to  its  last  analysis  when  it 
seemed  to  stand  in  the  way  of  a  practical  impulse. 
He  had  a  mind  keen  enough  to  appreciate  specu- 
lative truth;  but  he  would  not  ascend  in  a  balloon 
nor  go  over  ITiagara  Falls  to  prove  himself  con- 
sistent therewith.  He  was  hence  averse  to  all 
disputation  for  its  own  sake.  He  said,  "We 
have  known  much  evil,  but  seldom  any  good 
result  from  controversy.  We  are  aware  that  we 
difier  from  some  of  our  brethren ;  but  we  are 
resolved  not  to  contend  about  sanctilication  while 
we  are  pleading  and  contending  for  it.  The 
difl'erences  we  have  noticed  thus  far  have  been 
concerning  the  metaphysical  points  connected 
with  the  doctrine.  Our  object  is  higher  than  to 
contend  for  a  theory."  Again  he  said,  "Even 
those  who  were  thought  to  be  opposed  to  this 
doctrine,  when  properly  understood,  do  not  differ 
so  materially  from  us  who  profess  to  believe  in  it 
in  full.      One   brother,  who  was   thought  to  be 


82  LIFE    OP    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

very  much  opposed  to  perfection,  said  tliat  if  we 
mean  perfection  through  Christ  he  had  no  objec- 
tion to  it,  but  if  we  mean  a  perfection  independ- 
ent of  Christ  he  must  op^Dose  it,  —  with  which 
we  heartily  agree."  The  series  of  editorials  on 
sanctification  published  in  1849  were  especially 
consecutive  in  thought,  able  in  argument,  and 
indicative  of  a  profound  knowledge  of  the  heart. 

Two  mistakes  are  to  be  avoided.  We  are  not 
to  explain  away  the  doctrine  and  importance  of 
Banctilication  by  the  assumption  or  proof  that 
some  theories  concerning  it  are  false;  and  then 
we  are  to  be  careful  against  a  view  that  is  unduly 
liable  to  be  misunderstood,  or  to  lead  to  self- 
deception  or  imposture.  With  the  former  error 
Mr.  Edwards  could  at  no  time  be  charged.  Of 
the  necessity  of  guarding  against  the  latter  he 
became  more  and  more  aware. 

While  the  liability  of  a  view  to  be  perverted 
is  often  only  an  argument  that  there  is  some- 
thing vital  in  it,  that  liability  is  a  constant  argu- 
ment against  ignorant  or  reckless  advocacy.  The 
doctrine  has  suiFered  much  from  a  mechanical 
propagation,  the  cheap  clap -trap  of  mushroom 
experiences,  and  the  heightened  peril  that  always 
attends  whatever  is  truly  pure  in  quality  or  ex- 
alted in  degree.  But  to  make  these  liabilities  or 
perversions  an  argument  against  holiness,  would 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP  EDWARBS.  83 

be  like  declaring  against  our  character  as  intelli- 
gent and  immortal  beings  because  of  the  unspeak- 
able perils  which  are  thereby  implied. 

In  a  sketch  of  the  life  of  a  great  and  good 
man,  some  may  deem  it  out  of  place  to  speak  of 
his  real  or  supposed  defects.  But  this  is  not  the 
correct  view.  At  least  Mr.  Edwards  himself  did 
not  so  regard  it.  In  sketches  of  this  kind,  while 
editor,  lie  more  than  once  speaks  of  the  side  of 
defect,  and  unfavorably  notices  those  eulogies 
that  are  turned  off  as  biographies.  He  said  to  a 
trusted  friend,  "I  fear  that  people  take  me  to  be 
a  much  better  man  than  I  really  am.  Sometimes 
I  think  that  I  will  write  down  in  a  little  book  all 
my  weaknesses  and  moral  defects, —  my  secret 
faults,  my  inner  trials  and  conflicts  with  the 
powers  of  darkness, — and  have  them  published 
to  the  world  after  my  death." 

His  capacity  of  giving  himself  wholly  to  one 
thing  was  indeed  marvelous.  But  this  element 
of  strength  seemed,  at  times,  to  lead  him  into  a 
one-sided  view  of  things.  This  was  especially 
true  when  his  keen  intellect  and  ardent  temper- 
ament ted  him  into  fields  of  thought  with  which 
he  was  but  partially  acquainted.  At  one  time 
he  read  and  much  admired  the  Thompsonian 
system  of  medicine.  But  his  practical  good  sense 
and  general  intelligence  soon  led  him  to  give  it 


84  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDAVARDS. 

up  as  utterly  worthless.  He  also  became  greatly 
interested,  for  a  time,  in  "  Millerism,"  so  called. 
"William  Miller,  the  founder  of  a  sect  called  Mil- 
lerites,  had  prophesied  that  the  world  would  be 
destroyed  in  1843.  Mr.  Miller  was  a  learned 
man,  and  well  versed  in  the  Scriptures.  Hence 
his  views  were  presented  in  a  very  plausible  light. 
Mr.  Edwards,  however,  soon  abandoned  this  de- 
lusion also.  These  instances  will  suffice  to  show 
that  he  was  at  times  led  away  from  the  more 
tangible  securities  of  precedent  and  experience. 
But  this  could  be  said  with  equal  truth  of  the 
brightest  minds  that  have  ever  adorned  and  in- 
structed the  human  race. 


CHAPTER 


V  . 


Editorial  Labors  Continued — Valuable  Extracts. 

l^wT  SITING,  with  Mr.  Edwards,  was  not  a 


IImI  pleasurable  pastime. 
^^^T*^^   to  it,  while  editor,  fr 


He  gave  himself 
,  ._  ,.,  ..„..„  „„..„.,  ..om  a  sense  of  duty; 
;|»^'*and  whatever  he  did  of  this  kind  of  work, 
in  after -years,  was  directed  by  this  same 
strong  impulse.  It  is  by  this  standard  that 
he  must  be  judged  as  a  writer,  and  not  by  the  ar- 
tificial rules  of  those  who  have  made  literature  a 
profession.  Works  of  taste  and  sentiment,  as 
poetry  and  eloquence,  he  cared  but  little  about. 
He  certainly  could  have  excelled  in  this  field  if 
he  had  chosen  to  enter  it.  But  he  did  not,  for  the 
very  good  reason  that  Providence  ordered  it 
otherwise.  He  was  destined,,  as  we  have  seen, 
for  another  and  a  more  useful  sphere  of  thought 
and  action.  How  well  and  grandly  he  wrought 
in  his  chosen  field  of  Christian  activity,  thousands 
can  testify.  As  a  preacher,  he  ranked  among 
the  best.  His  writings  on  religious  subjects, 
it   must    be   confessed,   possess   nire   excellence. 

A  few   extracts    from    his    numerous   editorials 

85 


86  LIFE   OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

will  suffice  to  show  with  what  clearness  and 
power  he  could  wield  the  pen.  In  this  way  Mr. 
Edwards  can  be  presented  to  the  readers  as  a 
writer,  and  especially  as  an  example  of  a  high 
type  of  Christian  experience,  much  better  than 
by  anything  the  author  may  say.  He  read  and 
studied  much.  Works  of  piety  and  devotion 
were  his  favorites.  But  no  book  had  so  deep  and 
firm  a  hold  on  his  mind  and  heart  as  the  Bible. 
It  was  indeed  with  him  "  the  book,"  by  way  of 
eminence. 

In  speaking  of  the  supreme  authority  of  the 
Bible  he  said,  " '  Let  God  be  true  but  every  man 
a  liar.'  Man  by  education  frequently  receives 
many  errors  as  truth,  and  holds  them  sincerely* 
The  Bible  itself  becomes  a  mere  help  to  his  sys- 
tem of  opinions.  He  reads  it  not  for  the  purpose 
of  correcting,  but  to  prove  his  previously  formed 
views.  His  views  are  the  standard  before  which 
everything  else  must  fall,  positive  Bible  asser- 
tions not  excepted.  Such  a  state  of  mind  is  prac- 
tical infidelity.  It  is  not  the  simple,  teachable, 
and  confiding  spirit  of  that  believer  who  acknowl- 
edges in  heart  and  life  the  supreme  authority  of 
God's  Word.  Viewing  the  Bible  as  the  word  of 
God,  such  a  man  approaches  it  without  any 
standard  of  opinion  by  which  to  judge  of  its 
doctrines.     He  has  learned  the  weakness  and  un- 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  87 

certainty  of  human  reason,  and  his  own  prone- 
ness  to  error;  his  own  opinions,  like  his  own 
righteousness,  would  be  sure  to  lead  him  away 
from  God.  As  he  has  no  confidence  in  his  own 
opinions,  as  such,  so  has  he  no  confidence  in  the 
opinions  of  others,  further  than  they  are  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  Bible.  A  plain,  positive  'thus 
saith  the  Lord'  outweighs  all  the  speculations  of 
men.  Before  this  his  prejudices,  opinions,  com- 
mentaries, and  men-made  creeds  all  fall  prostrate. 
God  is  his  teacher.  To  him  he  looks  up  with  the 
confidence  of  an  unsuspecting  infant  for  all  his 
views  of  duty,  for  direction  even  in  the  smallest 
matters.  God  is  his  light  and  his  salvation. 
When  he  reads  the  Bible,  it  is  to  learn  what  the 
Lord  has  to  say  to  him;  when  he  hears  the  gos- 
pel, it  is  for  the  same  purpose,"  . 

He  loved  solitude — or,  as  he  called  it,  being 
"alone  with  God."  He  was»not,  however,  a 
recluse,  or  disposed  to  live  without  society.  He 
loved  society,  and  was  one  of  its  brightest  orna- 
ments. In  the  midst  of  his  family  and  friends  he 
was  cheerful  and  happy.  His  intelligence,  purity, 
and  ready  wit  made  him  a  most  agreeable  com- 
panion. But  at  times  he  sought  the  solitude  of 
a  wood,  a  lonely  valley,  or  a  private  room  for 
meditation  and  prayer.  His  spiritual  life  was  thus 
nourished,  and  the  way  of   duty  made  plainer. 


88  LIFE    OF    BISUOP    EDWARDS. 

He  said,  "  There  is  no  sphere  this  side  of  heaven 
where  tlie  soul  of  the  beHever  can  grow  and 
expand  as  it  docs  alone  with  God,  separated  from 
all  earthly  things  and  influences;  and  yet  there 
is,  perhaps,  no  duty  more  frequently  neglected  by 
Christians,  cs]iccially  at  the  present  time,  than 
such  retirement.  By  this  we  do  not  intend  to 
charge  Christians  generally  with  an  entire  neglect 
of  what  they  call  secret  prayer;  but  we  are  far 
from  believing  that  those  who  retire  at  stated 
times  every  day  for  prayer  arc,  during  their  retire- 
ment,' alone  with  God  in  a  religious  sense.  How 
often  do  we  take  the  world  with  us  to  our  closets, 
and,  even  while  on  our  knees  in  prayer,  suffer  our 
minds  to  be  occupied  with  earthly  things.  Such 
praying  is  little  better  than  mocker}'.  To  b# 
alone  with  God  implies  something  more  than  the 
retirement  of  the  body  from  the  company,  busi- 
ness, and  cares  of^earth;  the  soul  must  be  drawn 
off  from  the  world  and  self.  Tlie  Deity  is  then 
manifested  to  the  soul  not  only  as  an  omnipresent 
Being,  but  as  present  in  a  peculiar,  indescribabPe 
sense,  known  onU*  to  those  who  have  realized  it. 
Here  tlie  soul  seems  to  pour  itself  out  before  the 
Lord  and  unbosom  all  its  griefs  and  cares,  receiv- 
ing in  return  the  needed  supplies  of  grace  and 
the  assurance  of  the  continued  favor  and  protec- 
tion of  the  Father  of  all  our  mercies.     It  is  here 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  89 

that  our  finite  minds  are  brought  into  union  with 
the  infinite,  and  receive  a  portion  of  the  loveli- 
ness and  benevolence  of  God.  It  is  sometimes  the 
case  that  the  very  countenance  glistens  with  the 
divine  radiance  received  by  the  soul  in  such 
seasons  of  deep  communion.  In  order  to  under- 
stand experimentally  what  is  meant  by  being 
alone  with  God,  special  protracted  seasons  of 
prayer  are  necessary.  Such  is  the  constitution 
of  our  minds  and  our  relation  to  the  world  that  it 
requires  time  and  diligent,  protracted  efibrt  to  dis- 
engage our  thoughts  and  aft'ectigns  from  earthly 
things.  We  are  much  more  easily  aft'ected  by 
things  of  sense  than  by  the  unseen  realities  of 
the  eternal  world.  Hence  we  are  commanded, 
^fter  having  entered  into  our  closets,  to  shut 
the  door,  and  thereby  exclude  every  obtruding 
thought.  0  believer,  let  us  examine  ourselves 
with  special  reference  to  this  point.  If  we  are 
deficient  in  this,  nothing  else  can  make  up  our 
loss.  No  one  can  become  eminent  for  piety  with- 
out much  of  communion  with  God  in  retirement. 
This  point  must  be  insisted  on  and  more  gener- 
ally practiced  before  we  can  expect  any  general 
revival  of  true  ijiety  among  us." 

Prayer  is  both  a  duty  and  a  privilege.  To 
acknowledge  the  all-sufficiency  of  God,  and  man's 
utter  dependence  upon  him,  is  alike  the  dictate 


90  LIFE  OP  BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

of  reason  and  of  revelation.  It  is  also  the  divinely 
appointed  means  by  which  to  obtain  both  tem- 
poral and  spiritual  blessings.  The  practice  of 
communion  Avith  God  in  devotional  address,  wor- 
ship, and  supplication,  we  call  prayer.  It  is,  in  a 
word,  the  act  of  a  needy  and  helpless  creature 
seeking  relief  at  the  fountain  of  mercy.  Ilence 
we  entreat,  supplicate,  beg,  implore,  beseech,  and 
petition  God  for  the  things  we  need.  All  these 
words  and  others  of  like  kind  Mr.  Edwards  used 
freely  to  express  his  views  and  feelings  on  the 
subject  of  prayer.  How  much  time  he  spent  in 
private  devotion  is  not  for  us  to  know.  But  to 
pray  in  secret,  we  know,  was  the  habit  of  his  life. 
His  public  prayers,  as  thousands  can  testify,  were 
most  appropriate  and  thrilling.  The  following 
extract  from  an  editorial  on  the  subject  of  "Pre- 
vailing Prayer  "  is  a  clear  statement  of  his  own 
experience.  He  said,  "  This  is  the  great  desider- 
atum among  Christians  of  the  present  age.  The 
want  of  revival  influence,  the  low  state  of  relig- 
ion, the  reasons  for  the  present  spiritual  dearth, 
— these  and  kindred  subjects  are  now  the  topics 
of  common  talk  among  those  who  have  any  zeal 
for  true  religion.  But  is  there  no  remedy  for  the 
moral  diseases  of  the  church?  Yes,  there  is  a 
never  -  failing  remedy, — importunate,  believing, 
prevailing   prayer.     God  himself  has   said,  *  For 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  91 

all  these  things  will  I  be  inquired  of  by  the  house 
of  Israel.'  '  Ask  and  ye  shall  receive.'  Man  can 
prevail  with  God.  This  is  one  of  the  marks  of 
the  condescension  of  God.  He  suflfers  man  to  lay 
hold  of  him,  to  wrestle  with  him,  even  until  he 
overcomes  and  obtains  the  desire  of  his  heart. 
Let  ministers  weep  between  the  porch  and  the 
altar;  let  every  Christian  flee  to  his  closet,  and 
there  plead,  first  for  himself,  until  he  feels  the 
burden  of  the  Lord,  until  his  stubborn  heart  is 
melted  and  runs  out  after  souls;  and  then  let  him 
present  before  the  throne  of  God  the  state  of  the 
church,  its  unbelief,  lukewarmness,  worldliness, 
and  want  of  love.  But  let  no  one  suppose  that 
such  a  state  of  mind  can  be  obtained  without 
effort.  Unbelief  will  oppose;  self-indulgence  and 
spiritual  sloth  will  hinder;  the  worldliness  of  our 
hearts  will  stand  in  the  way;  the  example  of 
others,  company,  want  of  time,  want  of  conven- 
ient place,  and  unnumbered  other  excuses  wilt 
meet  us  at  every  point.  But  we  must  break 
through  every  hinderance,  remembering  that  '  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  suffereth  violence,  and  the 
violent  take  it  by  force.'  Above  all,  let  faith  in 
God  be  the  moving  principle.  With  it  '  nothing 
shall  by  any  means  be  impossible  to  us.'" 

That  the  leaven  of  the  gospel  kept  from  his 
heart  unbelief  and  bitterness  is  a  very  gratifying- 


92  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

fact.  In  order  to  show  this,  the  following  extracts 
are  here  introduced.  They  at  once  let  in  a  flood 
of  light  upon  the  spirit  and  life  of  their  author. 
Mr.  Edwards  was  not  an  optimist.  In  other 
w^ords,  he  did  not  believe  that  all  events,  moral 
evil  included,  are  ordered  for  the  best.  This 
amiable  philosophy  had  no  place  in  his  views  of 
God's  government  in  this  world.  Hence  his  de- 
nunciations of  sin  were  often  terrible.  And  yet 
he  could  see  a  "bright  side"  to  things  in  general, 
and  especially  in  the  affairs  of  the  church.  He 
said,  "  We  hear  and  read  much  about  the  corrup- 
tion of  the  church  of  this  age.  Infidels,  mor- 
alists, and  Christians  all  unite  in  condemning  the 
church.  A  spirit  of  fault-finding  and  criticism  is 
spreading  among  all  classes,  which,  if  not  checked, 
must  discourage  and  paralyze  the  energies  of 
those  who  are  laboring  for  the  salvation  of  Zion. 
This  arises  not  so  much  from  a  design  to  injure 
the  cause  of  religion  as  from  constantly  looking 
on  the  dark  side  of  things.  That  the  church  has 
many  imperfections  and  grievous  errors  and  sins 
is  manifest;  but  there  is  danger  of  our  looking 
so  much  at  these  as  to  cause  us  to  overlook  its 
virtues.  There  are  bright  spots  distinctly  visible 
to  those  who  are  not  looking  for  evil  instead  of 
good.  It  is  fully  as  much  our  duty  to  commend 
the  good  as  to  reprove  the  evil."     In  the  same 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  93 

spirit  of  discriminatiou  and  kindly  feeling  lie 
cautioned  against  "  dennnciatorj  preaching."  He 
said,  "By  this  we  mean  that  kind  of  preaching 
that  dwells  too  much  on  the  sins  and  errors  of 
the  people  without  presenting  the  proper  remedy. 
It  seems  that  the  ministers  of  the  present  age  are 
exceedingly  prone  to  this  kind  of  preaching.  This 
has  heen  called  the  age  of  reform,  and  nothing 
seems  popular  unless  connected  with  some  branch 
of  reform.  Almost  every  public  man  assumes 
the  responsible  title  of  reformer,  and  begins  at 
once  to  denounce  the  evils  from  which  we  are 
to  be  reformed.  This  begets  a  censorious  and 
denunciatory  spii'it  in  the  preacher,  who  now  sees 
nothing  but  evils  in  church  and  state,  which  are 
so  magnified  by  contemplation  that  tlrey  call  for 
more  vehement  and  earnest  denunciation,  until 
he  finally  persuades  himself  that  his  whole  busi- 
ness as  a  preacher  is  to  proclaim  against  sin. 
Brethren,  let  us  examine  the  subject  in  the  light 
of  the  Bible,  and  if  we  find  ourselves  wrong  in 
spirit  or  practice,  let  us,  for  the  sake  of  the  church 
and  perishing  souls,  seek  the  baptism  of  love*  and 
follow  the  foot-steps  of  Him  who  came  into  the 
world  not  to  destroy  men's  lives,  but  to  save 
them." 

The  favorite  theme  of  Mr.  Edwards  was  holi- 
ness of  heart   and  life.     If  there  was  any  one 


94  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

subject  that  wholly  absorbed  him,  it  was  this. 
Hence  his  tongue  and  pen  were  alike  busily  em- 
ployed in  its  advocacy.  He  professed  to  enjoy 
the  blessing  himself,  and  of  course  could  speak 
from  experience.  The  two  following  extracts  are 
here  introduced  as  specimens  of  his  skill  and 
power  as  a  writer  on  this  subject.  It  was  his 
wont  to  call  this  state  of  grace  the  "beauty  of 
holiness."  In  one  of  his  happy  moods  of  mind 
and  heart  he  asked,  "What  is  holiness?"  In 
answer  to  this  question  he  said,  "  It  is  not  a  mere 
emotion  or  passion,  neither  does  it  exist  in  any 
external  act  or  ceremonies ;  but  it  is  a  moral  state 
and  habit — a  condition  of  purity  and  rectitude. 
It  is  not  a  grace,  but  the  assemblage  of  all  the 
graces  necessary  to  form  the  Christian  character. 
It  is,  in  a  word,  the  moral  image  of  God,  who  is 
said  to  be  'glorious  in  holiness,'  and  whose 
nature  is  love.  The  heart  that  is  full  of  love  is 
full  of  holiness.  Yet  it  abhors  sin  as  the  '  abomi- 
nable thing  that  God  hates.'  Such  is  holiness.  It 
is  the  harmonious  assemblage  of  all  the  moral 
qualities  necessary  to  form  a  complete  character. 
In  it  are  beautifully  blended  piety  and  peace,  jus- 
tice and  mercy,  and  truth  and  righteousness.  An 
object,  to  appear  beautiful,  must  exhibit  order.  All 
its  parts  must  be  properly  proportioned  and  prop- 
erly placed.     In  sin  there  is  no  order,  but  every- 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  95 

thing  is  by  it  deranged.  "Whenever  holiness  is 
permitted  to  enter,  it  is  like  a  neat  housekeeper, — ■ 
first  cleansing  the  house  from  all  pollution,  and 
then  placing  everything  in  its  jDroper  place.  It 
places  the  aflections  on  Christ  and  heavenly 
things,  regulates  the  passions,  sets  reason  on  the 
throne,  places  the  world  under  foot,  and  brings 
the  whole  man  into  complete  subjection  to  the 
will  of  God.  This  is  order.  This  is  true  beauty. 
This  is  the  beauty  of  holiness.  Another  feature 
in  the  blessed  principles  of  holiness  that  gives  it 
superior  beauty  is  its  fullness.  Consider  also  the 
fruits  of  holiness, — the  peace,  joy,  and  resignation 
it  brings  to  its  possessor.  There  is  nothing  higher 
even  in  the  abodes  of  the  blessed  than  holiness. 
It  forms  the  chief  glory  of  God.  Seek,  then,  my 
soul,  this  pearl  of  great  price;  let  its  enrapturing 
beauties  captivate  thy  aft'ections;  let  its  resplen- 
dent glories,  as  a  powerful  magnet,  draw  you  to 
itself,  and  to  God,  whose  nature  and  whose  name 
is  holy." 

It  is  clear  that  the  doctrine  of  sanctification 
is  taught  in  the  Bible.  That  it  may  be  sought 
and  obtained  is  equally  .clear.  The  commands 
and  promises  of  God  to  this  efiect  are  explicit. 
Thus  far  all  orthodox  Christians  agree.  It  is  a 
question  with  many,  however,  as  to  whether  this 
high  state  of  grace  can  be  attained  in  the  present 


96  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

life.  Hence  very  different  ans^ve^s  "have  been 
given  to  this  particular  form  of  the  question.  In 
an  editorial  Mr,  Edwards  raised  the  question, 
"  Sanctification  —  When  Obtained,"  and  imme- 
diately subjoined  the  following  answer:  "Among 
Protestants  we  know  of  but  four  different  views 
on  this  question.  Some  say  that  sanctification  is 
attained  at  the  moment  of  justification,  others 
that  it  is  a  gradual  Avork,  others  that  it  is  at- 
tained at  death,  and  others,  still,  that  it  is  ob- 
tained at  any  moment  subsequent  to  justification, 
when  it  is  souo-ht  bv  unwaverins^  faith.  "We  are 
not  prepared  to  say  that  the  reception,  as  to  time, 
is  absolutely  limited  to  any  of  the  above  meth- 
ods. We  have  reasons  to  believe  that  there  are 
examples  of  persons  receiving  it  in  all  of  the 
ways  mentioned.  To  adopt  ?.ny  of  the  above 
views  as  an  absolute  standard,  and  to  deny  this 
grace  to  all  who  do  not  receive  it  precisely  in  the 
same  manner  as  to  time,  would  be  assuming  a 
position  not  warranted  by  scripture  nor  sustained 
by  experience.  The  Bible  nowhere  states  that  it 
must  be  received  in  all  cases  at  the  same  relative 
time.  The  Bible  rule  is,  'Accordins;  to  vour  faith 
be  it  unto  you.'  As  he  that  believes  with  all  his 
heart  for  justifying  grace  receives  it  in  that  hour, 
80  he  that  believes  with  a  heart  unto  righteous- 
ness, asking  definitely  for  full  sanctification,  re- 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  97 

ceives  it  in  the  same  hour.  As  our  Savior  is  able 
to  save  to  the  uttermost  all  that  properly  ap- 
proach him,  who  can  say  that  he  might  not  both 
justify  and  sanctify  at  the  same  hour  or  moment 
the  soul  whose  faith  is  sufficiently  enlightened 
and  strong  to  grasp  and  claim  both  ?  We  know 
of  no  divine  declaration  against  the  possibility  of 
receiving  both  at  once.  On  God's  part,  '  All 
things  are  ready.'  Yet  how  comparatively  few 
are  prepared  to  receive  the  grace  of  sanctification 
at  the  time  they  seek  the  pardon  of  sin!  How 
few  have,  or  can  even  endure,  a  full  discovery 
of  the  evils  of  their  own  hearts,  their  hidden 
sins,  their  deep-seated  depravity,  before  receiving 
the  pardon  of  past  sins!  While  seeking  pardon, 
the  mind  is  almost  entirely  occupied  with  its 
guilt  and  danger,  and  the  burden  of  its  outward 
sins;  whereas,  in  seeking  sanctification  it  is 
wholly  occupied  with  the  desire  to  be  cleansed 
from  the  filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  the  spirit. 
While  we  admit  that  some  do  have  sufficient 
light  and  faith,  sufficient  consecration  and  self- 
denial  to  ask  and  receive  the  blessing  of  sanctifi- 
cation in  connection  with  justification,  we  also  do 
cheerfully  admit  that  some  do  receive  it  after 
justification  by  a  gradual  process.  They  are  in- 
fluenced by  the  best  light  they  have,  and  are  led 
on  step  by  step,  relinquishing  and  consecrating 


98  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

little  by  little,  in  a  kind  of  retail  manner,  until 
the  Spirit  bears  witness  of  their  entire  salvation. 
But  those  who  come  out  in  this  indefinite  manner 
seldom  have  a  very  definite  experience,  or  a  very 
clear  liofht.  There  are  others  who  receive  this 
grace  a  short  time  before  death.  How  often  do 
Christians,  when  a  threatening  accident  or  a  dan- 
gerous illness  presents  itself,  cry,  '  Oh,  spare  me, 
that  I  may  recover  strength  before  I  go  hence 
and  be  no  more.'  The  Lord  in  mercy  hears  their 
cry  in  the  extremity  of  life,  and  saves  them  fully. 
But  we  would  have  it  definitely  understood  that 
although  we  admit  that  some  do  receive  the  bless- 
ing of  entire  sanctification  near  the  gate  of  death, 
it  is  not  the  better  way;  neither  does  it  honor 
God  so  much  as  to  ask  and  receive,  and  exhibit 
this  grace  while  in  life  and  health.  E'either  is 
it  safe  for  any  one  who  is  now  convinced  of  the 
necessity  of  it  to  defer  it  till  death,  thus  presum- 
ing on  the  mercy  of  God.  Others  who  have  re- 
ceived it  on  the  bed  of  death  may  not  have  had 
the  degree  of  light  that  we  have.  The  present  is 
the  only  safe  time." 

Those  who  read  these  pages  need  not  be  told 
that  Mr.  Edwards  possessed  more  than  ordinary 
power  both  as  a  preacher  and  a  writer.  The  im- 
pression is  already  deep  and  abiding  that,  in 
these  respects  at  least,  he  had  no  superior  in  the 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  99 

church  of  liis  choice.  But  what  was  the  secret 
of  his  power?  This  question  can  not  be  answered 
in  a  word.  The  best  that  the  reader  can  do  is 
to  take  all  the  facts  connected  with  his  eventful 
and  useful  life  and  then  judge  for  himself.  The 
following  extracts,  considered  as  limits  to  preach- 
ers, will  help  us  in  making  up  this  judgment.  ^ 
Let  us  remember  that  the  rules  he  laid  down  for 
others  he  rigidly  imposed  upon  himself. 

Apologies. — What  is  the  principle  that  moves  the  preacher 
to  speak  of  liis  inexperience,  his  ignorance,  his  weariness, 
or  present  unfitness  to  preach?  Has  self  nothing  to  do 
with  it?  Does  this  not  spring  from  secret,  hidden  pride,— 
a  desire  to  have  the  audience  make  every  possible  allow- 
ance, so  that  if  he  fails  he  may  have  it  charged  to  unfavor- 
able present  circumstances,  and  not  to  any  want  of  talent f 

Long  Prayer. — We  speak  not  now  of  secret  prayer.  No 
danger  of  Christians  of  the  present  age  spending  too  much 
time  in  secret  communion' with  God.  We  fear  that  it  is 
by  no  means  the  case  that  those  who  are  the  most  tedious 
in  their  public  prayers  continue  longest  in  their  closets. 
Reader,  is  this  your  case?  Are  your  secret  prayers  few  and 
short,  and  your  public  prayers  long  and  wearisome  ?  If  so, 
have  you  not  reason  to  believe  that  you  are  a  hypocrite? 

Pastoral  Visiting. — Brethren,  suffer  a  word  of  exhortation. 
Do  you  visit  your  flocks?  Do  you  do  it  in  the  spirit  of 
the  religion  you  preach?  Does  your  private  conversation 
make  infidels  or  Christians?  Can  we  turn  to  the  text,  "Ye 
have  scattered  my  flock,  and  driven  them  away,  and  have 
not  visited  them,"  without  feeling  that  we  are  guilty  ? 

That  Same  Old  Sermon.— The  same  old  sermon  preached. 


100  LIFE   OP   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

perhaps,  several  years  ago  is  still  dealt  out,  instead  of  the 
fresh,  living  gospel.  What  flock  can  thrive  on  moldy  food? 
The  best  of  sermons  will  lose  their  freshness  by  age.  Every 
Bermoib  should  be  new  in  some  of  its  features.  It  should 
be  newly  studied  and  arranged ;  should  contain  some  new 
truths  —  we  had  almost  said  some  new  revelation.  There 
is  no  excuse  for  not  having  something  new  in  every  sermon. 
-The  Bible  has  a  depth  that  has  never  yet  been  fathomed. 
The  Holy  Spirit  is  ever  ready  to  assist  and  direct  the  mind 
into  all  truth,  and  to  the  very  truth  most  applicable  to  the 
present  congregation.  Let  us  have  the  living  words  of  God 
passing  through  a  warm  heart  and  setting  everything  on 
fire  upon  which  they  fall.  The  unction,  the  holy,  living 
unction,  is  what  is  needed,  giving  a  new  message  to  every 
congregation. 


CHAPTER  YI. 

General  Conference  of  1849  —  Elected  Bishop  — First  Confer- 
ence Sessions. 


"i^p?HE  General  Conference  of  1849  met  in 
Germantown,  Ohio,  May  14,  and  was 
opened  by  Bishop  Hanby.  Bishops  Russel 
"and  Glossbrenner  were  also  present.  Four- 
teen annual  conferences  were  entitled  to  rep- 
resentation. J.  Montgomery,  D.  Edwards,  and 
M.  Ambrose  represented  Scioto  Conference.  Con- 
sidering the  trying  place  which  he  had  filled  as 
editor  for  four  years,  and  the  number  of  strong 
men  in  Scioto  Conference,  his  election  as  delegate 
was  an  evidence  of  the  solid  character  that  was 
accorded  to  him.  At  the  General  Conference  he 
met  men  of  independent  and  resolute  mold,  de- 
voted alike  to  their  convictions  and  the  interest 
of  the  Church.  Kotably  among  these  may  be 
mentioned  Markwood,  Erb,  Bright,  Kumler,  "W. 
Davis,  H.  Bonebrake,  Russel,  Rhinehart,  Witt, 
Hanby,  Glossbrenner,  and  Montgomery.  Early 
in  the  session  Mr.  Bachtel,  of  Virginia  Confer- 
ence, presented  a  resolution  alleging,  on  technical 

101 


102  LIFE   BISHOP   OF   EDWARDS. 

grounds,  the  illegality  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
Church  as  inserted  in  the  Discipline.  In  the  vote 
taken  the  three  Virginia  delegates  voted  in  the 
affirniitive,  while  all  the  other  members,  thirty- 
four  in  number,  voted  in  the  negative.  Mr. 
Edwards,  in  voting  in  the  negative,  indicated  the 
stand  which  he  maintained  for  life.  This  early 
attack  upon  the  Constitution  in  order  to  get  rid 
of  some  of  its  restrictive  provisions  thus  signally 
failed.  Nor  have  later  attempts  of  a'  like  kind 
succeeded  better. 

On  the  subject  of  secret  societies,  the  rule  from 
1841  to  1849  had  been,  "  Freemasonry  in  every 
sense  of  the  word  shall  be  totally  prohibited,  and 
in  no  wise  tolerated  in  our  society."  Some  argued 
that  the  prohibition  of  "  Freemasonry "  could 
not  be  made  to  include  minor  orders.  But  the 
expression,  "in  every  sense  of  the  word,"  fol- 
lowing the  general  designation,  "  Freemasonry," 
along  with  the  article  of  the  Constitution,  adopted 
at  the  same  time  the  rule  was  adopted,  must 
extend  the  interpretation  over  the  whole  family 
of  secret  orders.  On  the  proposition  to  change 
the  former  less  definite  rule  to  the  fuller  form, — 
"  Freemasonr}''  in  every  sense  of  the  word  shall 
be  totally  prohibited;  and  there  shall  be  no  con- 
nection with  secret  combinations," — a  number  of 
speeches  were  called  out.     Mr.  Edwards  spoke 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  103 

and  voted  in  favor  of  the  proposed  change.  In 
this  we  see  how  thoroughly  devoted  he  was  to  a 
cherished  principle  of  the  Church,  and  how  fully 
he  had  imbibed  the  spirit  of  the  fathers.  The 
majority  in  favor  of  the  resolution  was  thirty- 
three  against  two,  which  was  a  most  triumphant 
vindication  of  a  vital  principle  involved. 

A  resolution  on  the  subject  of  slavery  elicited 
some,  discussion.  Mr.  Edwards  opposed  it,  though 
it  was  strenuously  antislavery,  because  in  his  view 
it  was  not  up  to  the  strict  requirement  of  the 
Discipline,  in  demanding  an  immediate  emanci- 
pation in  each  and  every  case  of  slave-holding. 
The  resolution  passed,  however,  by  a  vote  of 
twenty-four  against  seven. 

The  General  conferences  of  this  period  were 
marked  by  an  earnest,  aggressive,  and  preponder- 
ating reform-spirit.  It  was  manifest  that  the  very 
life  of  the  Church  ran  in  this  channel.  Those 
whose  efforts  and  influence  were  most  marked  in 
the  progress  and  direction  of  the  Church  for  the 
following  quarter  of  a  century  were  impelled  and 
molded  by  it.  It  supplied,  in  fact,  the  very  con- 
ditions which  are  necessary  for  the  support  of 
bold  and  decided  characters.  Such  was  Mr.  Ed- 
wards, lie  was  by  nature  rigid,  and  by  grace 
conscientious.  These  elements  of  strength,  com- 
bined with  his  hearty  acceptance  of  all  the  reform- 


104  LIFE   OP  BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

atory  measures  of  the  Church,  soon  marked  him 
as  a  great  leader. 

By  this  conference  Mr.  Edwards  was  re-elected 
editor  of  the  Religious  Telescope.  But  he  at  once 
declined  to  accept  the  office  for  a  second  term. 
The  reason  assigned  was  the  want  of  business 
capacity  on  the  part  of  the  publishing  agent  just 
elected.  He  remarked  that  he  himself  was  not 
fitted  for  the  business  department  of  the  Telescope, 
and  that  the  paper  could  not  be  properly  cared 
for  by  two  such  men.  True,  the  paper  had  pros- 
pered during  the  preceding  term;  yet  he  would 
be  satisfied  with  nothing  short  of  the  greatest 
possible  success.  Rev.  William  Hanby,  who  haa 
just  completed  one  term  as  bishop,  and  who  had 
been  Mr.  Edwards'  predecessor  as  editor,  was  now 
elected  his  successor  in  that  responsible  position. 

"When  the  ballots  for  bishops  were  counted,  it 
was  found  that  David  Edwards  was  one  of  those 
elected,  J.  J.  Glossbrenner  and  Jacob  Erb  being 
his  associates.  Mr.  Glossbrenner  had  just  comple- 
ted his  first  term  as  bishop,  and  Mr.  Erb  had  filled 
the  office  eight  years  following  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1837.  Mr.  Edwards  was  thus  hurried 
from  one  responsible  position  to  another.  If  he 
had  not  been  a  man  that  could  turn  himself 
wholly  and  at  once  to  the  first  duty  that  presented 
itself,  he  would  not  have  become  familiarized  with 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  105 

it  before  the  next  duty  was  laid  upon  him.  He 
possessed  this  capacity,  however,  in  a  high  degree. 
In  the  different  steps  of  his  life  he  presents  the 
unmistakable  marks  of  one  called  and  directed 
by  Providence.  So  far  from  planning  what  was 
before  him,  he  seemed  actually  blind  to  it  till 
each  successive  change  made  its  own  announce- 
ment. Seldom  does  God  give  to  his  most  eminent 
servants  notice  beforehand  of  the  parts  they  are 
to  perform.  But  the  election  of  Mr.  Edwards  to 
the  bishop's  office,  while  a  surprise  to  him,  was  a 
choice  which  the  Church  was  fully  prepared  to 
approve. 

"While  promotion  to  that  high  office,  as  is  often 
said,  usually  develops  high -church  notions,  the 
effect  upon  him  was  not  of  this  character.  A 
brother  editor  had  complimented  him  on  his  new 
dignity;  but  in  his  reply  he  said,  "We  must  object 
most  seriously  to  the  application  of  the  term 
episcopal,  in  its  popular  sense,  to  our  name  and 
office.  The  episcopal  office,  as  understood  in 
ecclesiastical  history  and  popular  usage,  is  not 
acknowledged  by  us.  Our  bishops  are  not  or- 
dained, only  elected,  and  that  only  for  four  years, 
to  preside  in  the  annual  and  General  confer- 
ences." 

"With  the  following  words  of  review,  so  char- 
acteristic, he  closed  his  work  as  editor: 


106  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

"  In  reviewing  briefly  our  labors  for  the  past 
four  years,  we  feel  deeply  humbled  in  view  of  the 
many  blunders  and  mistakes  committed,  together 
with  the  want  of  spirit  and  energy,  the  want  of 
that  intellectual  and  moral  power  so  essential  to 
a  religious  journal,  which  we  feel  satisfied  must 
have  been  noticed  bj'  our  discerning  readers.  But 
we  are  comforted  with  the  reflection  that  our  aim 
was  right.  We  now  ask  God  and  our  readers  to 
pardon  wherein  we  have  come  short  or  in  any 
way  deviated  from  the  principles  of  true  holiness. 

"As  to  the  doctrines  we  have  advocated,  our 
devotion  to  them  remains  unchanged.  Uncom- 
promising opposition  to  all  sin  has  been  our 
watch-word  from  the  beginning;  and  we  now  only 
regret  that  we  have  not  been  more  energetic  and 
untiring  in  our  eftbrts.  If  good  has  been  accom- 
plished, it  is  of  God;  and  to  him  be  the  glory. 
That  more  has  not  been  accomplished  is  from  our 
want  of  spirituality,  our  limited  experience  in 
the  depths  and  heights  of  holiness.  Oh,  how 
much  more  God  could  do  with  us  as  instruments 
if  we  were  more  like  himself. 

"An  affectionate  farewell  to  our  readers  and 
correspondents.  With  many  of  you  we  are  almost 
familiar,  though  never  having  met  face  to  face, 
and  with  you  we  feel  a  congeniality  of  spirit. 
Many  of  you  we  hope  to  greet  during  the  next 
four  years.  Providence  permitting." 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDAVARDS.  107 

The  General  Conference  assigned  him  to  the 
Middle  District,  including  White  River,  St.  Jo- 
seph, Sandusky,  Muskingum,  and  Scioto  confer- 
ences. Bishop  Erb  was  given  the  Eastern,  and 
Bishop  Glossbrenner  the  Western  District.  The 
Middle  District  lay  almost  wholly  in  Ohio,  Michi- 
gan, and  Indiana.  Agreeably  with  the  provision 
of  the  General  Conference,  Bishop  Glossbrenner 
and  Bishop  Edwards  exchanged  rounds  in  meet- 
ing the  conferences  in  1849,  and  Bishop  Gloss- 
brenner and  Bishop  Erb  made  a  similar  exchange 
in  1851.  Each  bishop,  however,  was  to  give  his 
labor,  while  not  attending  conferences,  to  his  own 
district. 

Having;  seen  Mr.  Edwards  taken  from  his  edi- 
torial  chair  and  elevated  to  the  position  of  bishop, 
we  are  now  anxious  to  see  him  oif"  on  his  first 
tour.  We  may  not  always  be  able  to  follow  him 
in  his  journeys,  but  we  must  go  with  him  on  his 
first  round.  The  household  effects  must  first  be 
stored  away  in  an  unoccupied  room;  for  he  will 
take  his  family  with  him,  and  no  more  make 
Circleville  his  home.  Here,  in  1847,  a  second 
daughter  was  born;  and  here,  just  a  few  weeks 
before  his  time  of  leaving,  an  only  son,  five  weeks 
old,  was  buried.  It  is  sad  to  leave;  but  the  prep- 
aration for  the  trip  must  go  forward.  But  we 
must  not  begin  to  think  of  the  ease  and  speed  of 


108  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

a  splendid  car  as  a  means  of  conveyance  for  the 
bishop  and  his  family.  The  great  railway  system 
which  had  been  begun  less  than  twenty  years 
before  had  reached  only  the  oldest  of  the  western 
states.  Hence  this  method  of  travel  was  not 
so  common  then  as  now.  So  it  was  decided 
to  undertake  the  journey  with  a  substantial  car- 
riage and  a  good,  stout  horse.  Mrs.  Edwards 
and  the  children  will  go  as  far  as  Peoria,  Illinois, 
and  there  remain  with  relatives,  while  the  bishop 
attends  the  Iowa  and  Illinois  conferences.  Iowa 
Conference  was  to  meet  on  the  twenty-third 
of  August.  So  the  starting  must  not  be  delayed 
beyond  the  last  week  in  July.  But  so  much  of 
a  trip  must  not  be  made  without  some  preaching 
along  the  way.  So  he  sent  forward  five  appoint- 
ments, and  filled  them  during  the  trip.  The 
journey  is  begun.  Bills  must  be  paid  here  and 
there  for  "toll,  cakes,  horse-feed,  tavern-fjire,  har- 
ness-mending, ferriage,"  and  so  forth.  Thus  they 
made  their  progress  through  the  country.  The 
roads  in  many  places  were  very  bad.  It  was 
frequently  convenient  to  stop  with  members  of 
the  Church.  One  evening  the  bishop  and  his 
family  drew  up  at  the  house  of  a  prominent 
minister  of  his  acquaintance  and  asked  the  privi- 
lege of  stopping  over  night.  The  lady  hesitated, 
as  her  husband  was  absent  and  not  expected  that 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  109 

night.  He  then  said  that  he  was  an  itinerant 
minister,  traveling  with  his  family,  and  could  not 
well  go  farther.  He  was  then  coldly  told  that  he 
might  stay.  The  domestic  atmosphere  did  not 
become  any  warmer  that  evening.  The  next 
morning,  as  they  went  on  their  way,  they  felt  it 
a  relief  to  be  out  again  on  the  road.  During  the 
next  day  the  husband  returned  and  was  told  that 
a  minister  by  the  name  of  Edwards,  with  his 
family,  had  stayed  over  night  at  his  house.  "  Ed- 
wards! Bishop  Edwards ! "  he  exclaimed;  for  he 
had  heard  of  his  passing  through  the  country. 
He  was  also  told  just  how  coldly  the  bishop  and 
his  family  had  been  entertained.  He  knew  not 
what  to  say  or  do.  The  next  time  that  he  met 
the  bishop  he  said,  ""Why  did  you  not  tell  my 
wife  who  you  were?  If  you  had  just  told  her 
that  you  were  Bishop  Edwards,  you  would  have 
been  cared  for  differently."  "  But ,"  said  the 
bishop,  "  I  do  not  wish  any  better  treatment  for 
myself  than  I  want  for  the  poorest  and  humblest 
itinerant." 

Having  taken  his  family  to  Peoria,  he  hastened 
on  to  meet  the  conference  at  Hershey's  School- 
house,  Linn  County,  Iowa.  Here,  at  the  sixth 
session  of  Iowa  Conference,  he  had  his  first  expe- 
rience in  presiding.  Seventeen  of  the  twenty-five 
members  were   present.     As  want  of  room  was 


110  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

one  of  the  greatest  difficulties  to  be  overcome,  it 
had  been  decided  to  hold  the  conference  in  con- 
nection with  a  camp-meeting.  The  conference 
cessions  were  held  in  the  school-house,  while  all 
special  religious  services  were  held  in  the  grove. 
The  bishop  preached  twice  in  the  grove.  One  ser- 
mon was  based  upon  the  prayer  of  the  Syrophe- 
nician  woman,  and  the  other  upon  the  words,  "  He 
had  in  his  right  hand  seven  stars."  These  ser- 
mons were  a  source  of  great  comfort  to  the  breth- 
ren. During  the  conference  he  frequently  said, 
'' Brethren,  I  am  young  and  inex[)erienced  in  con- 
ference business,  and  I  want  all  of  you,  especially 
the  older  ministers,  to  hel}»  nie. "'  But  when 
occasion  seemed  to  require,  he  was  sufficiently 
decided  and  firm.  In  going  to  Iowa  Conference 
he  traveled  about  twenty  miles  with  Rev.  A.  A. 
Sellers.  There  were  many  horse-thieves  in  the 
country.  Mr.  Sellers  asked  him  if  he  was  not 
afraid  they  would  steal  his  horse.  "No,"  said  he, 
"  they  can  not  steal  my  horse.  I  have  given  him 
to  the  Lord,  and  no  thief  can  take  him."  His 
£aith  thus  took  hold  of  a  living,  present,  and 
protecting  God.  This  was  the  secret  of  his 
strength. 

The  Illinois  Conference,  convening  August  30, 
at  Lockridge  School-house,  Ogle  County,  was  next 
visited.     Nineteen  of  the  members  were  present, 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  Ill 

and  nineteen  absent.  The  non-attendance  of 
so  large  a  number  was  noticed  with  regret.  The 
year,  however,  had  been  marked  with  prosperity, 
and  the  conference  session  was  peaceful  and  har- 
monious. The  bishop  was  made  the  bearer  to 
those  pioneer  conferences  of  very  helpful  aid 
from  the  older  portions  of  the  Church.  He 
found  the  preachers,  for  the  most  part,  in  very 
destitute  circumstances.  The  little  sent  from 
abroad  was  thankfully  received,  but  it  did  not  go 
very  far  in  bringing  relief  At  this  conference 
8ome  poor  brother's  condition  drew  on  the  sym- 
pathy of  the  bishop  to  such  an  extent  that  he 
made  him  a  small  present.  But  these  occasiona 
were  frequent,  and  generally  drew  from  him  a  por- 
tion of  his  own  scanty  means.  There  was  at  this 
time  an  earnest  spirit,  just  beginning  to  prevail  in 
the  Church,  especially  in  favor  of  home  and  fron- 
tier missions.  About  this  time  all  of  the  confer- 
ences were  formed  into  home  missionary  societies. 
From  this  conference  Bishop  Edwards  joined 
his  family  at  Peoria,  and  then  directed  his  course 
eastward.  On  this  trip  his  horse  became  so 
broken  down  that  he  had  to  procure  another. 
This  done  he  started  at  once  to  the  "Wabash  Con- 
ference, which  convened  September  13,  at  Goshen 
Church,  Vigo  County,  Indiana.  The  traveling 
had  to  be  vigorous  and  systematic  in  order  to 


112  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

meet  his  engagements  promptly.  He  reached 
the  place,  however,  in  due  time.  Twenty-five 
members  were  present  and  nineteen  absent.  This 
was  the  fifteenth  annual  session  of  the  confer- 
ence. In  the  beginning  of  the  session  there  was 
a  lack  of  spirituality  and  unity  among  the  mem- 
bers. This  grieved  the  bishop.  On  Friday  even- 
ing he  preached  from  the  text,  "  Have  salt  in 
yourselves,  and  have  peace  one  with  another." 
His  sermon  was  very  searching,  and  proved 
highly  salutary.  The  conference  sermon  preached 
on  Sabbath  was  much  blessed  to  the  good  of  the 
ministry. 

From  the  seat  of  the  "Wabash  Conference  the 
bishop  proceeded  to  Zion  Meeting-house,  Harri- 
son County,  Indiana.  At  this  place  he  met  the 
Indiana  Conference,  September  27,  in  its  twenti- 
eth session.  Kev.  J.  G.  Pfrimmer  came  from 
Pennsylvania  and  settled  in  this  county  iij  1808. 
Through  the  exertions  of  this  faithful  servant  of 
God,  the  first  United  Brethren  meeting-house 
west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains  was  here  erect- 
ed. Father  Pfrimmer  died  in  1825.  Many  of 
those  who  had  toiled  and  suffered  in  establishing 
the  church  at  this  place  had  also  passed  away. 
The  good  seed  sown  remained,  however,  and  had 
already  produced  a  rich  harvest.  The  bishop, 
more  than  once  during  the  conference  session, 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  113 

referred  to  the  sacredness  of  their  memory. 
Twenty-nine  members  were  present  and  eight 
absent.  At  this  session  the  first  measures  were 
taken  by  the  conference  looking  to  the  founding 
of  Hartsville  University.  The  bishop  gave  this 
measure  his  hearty  approvaL 

After  the  Indiana  Conference  adjourned  the 
bishop  proceeded  northward^  at  once,  to  meet 
the  Miami  Conference  at  Bhiifton,  "Wells  County, 
Indiana,  which  was  the  next  in  order.  This  was 
a  hard  trip,  as  the  distance  was  considerable,  and 
the  road  very  difficult  to  travel.  He  reached 
Blufi'ton,  however,  and  opened  the  conference, 
October  11,  according  to  appointment.  As  the 
ministers  had  to  go  on  horseback,  and  as  the  place 
was  much  at  one  side  of  the  conference  district, 
only  thirty-two  members  were  present,  while 
sixty-one  were  absent.  This  conference  included 
territory  which  had  been  occupied  since  1806. 
This  fortieth  session  of  the  conference  was,  in- 
deed, very  pleasant  and  profitable.  In  the  pre- 
ceding year  the  net  increase  of  the  membership 
had  been  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty- 
eight.  This  was  extraordinary,  and  indicated 
great  faithfulness  in  the  labors  of  that  year. 

At  these  conferences  the  strong  reform-spirit 
against  tobacco,  slavery,  intemperance,  and  secret 
orders  manifested  itself  in  earnest  speeches  and 


114  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

resolutions.  This  accorded  well  with  the  views 
of  the  bishop  and  the  sentiment  of  the  Church  at 
large.  All  the  conferences  of  the  Western  Dis- 
trict had  now  been  visited.  The  salary  of  the 
bishop  for  1849,  including  an  appropriation  of 
fifty  dollars  from  the  other  two  districts,  was  two 
hundred  and  one  dollars  and  sixty-four  cents 
above  contingent  expenses.  The  salary  during 
the  remaining  three  years  increased  the  average 
to  two  hundred  and  thirty-two  dollars  and  ninety- 
one  cents.  The  General  Conference  of  1841  had 
increased  the  salary  of  married  bishops,  presiding 
elders,  and  traveling  preachers  to  two  hundred 
dollars  above  house-rent  and  a  few  other  contin- 
gencies. 

From  Bluffton,  Bishop  Edwards  took  his  family 
to  Fulton  Countj^'Ohio,  then,  however,  a  part  of 
Lucas  County.  This  selection  of  a  country  home 
in  the  extreme  north  -  western  portion  of  the 
state  was  not  without  reason.  The  meagerness 
of  his  salary  has  already  been  mentioned.  Here 
his  mother-in-law  lived,  and  this  would  make  a 
pleasant  and  cheap  home  for  Mrs.  Edwards  and 
the  children  during  his  long  absence.  And  then 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Edwards  had  given  her  a  small 
piece  of  unimproved  land  near  by,  to  which  the 
bishop  could  add  a  little;  and  this  might,  after 
awhile,  improve  their  financial  prospects   some- 


LITE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  115 

what.  This  hope,  however,  proved  delusive,  for 
the  land  was  afterward  sold  without  much  ad- 
vance on  first  cost.  He  rented  the  house  of  his 
mother-in-law.  He  had  also  the  benefit  of  a  g-ar- 
den,  pasture,  and  meadow.  Here  he  lived  in  true 
country  style,  except  that  his  domestic  cares  were 
not  very  extensive.  From  these  Mrs.  Edwards 
almost  entirely  relieved  him. 

Leaving  his  family  here,  he  went  on  to  Circle- 
ville  to  arrange  for  the  moving  of  his  household 
goods.  This  done,  it  was  not  long  until  the 
family  had  settled  down  to  ordinary  relations  in 
their  new  home.  What  will  be  the  efiect,  upon 
Bishop  Edwards,  of  this  comparative  isolation 
and  these  pioneer  surroundings?  To  what  extent 
will  the  Church  be  deprived  of  his  presence  and 
influence?  These  questions  are  fully  answered  in 
the  fact  that  he  was  an  itinerant.  And  then  this 
country  home  was  near  Toledo,  a  great  railroad 
center,  and  also  near  the  center  of  his  district. 
He,  of  course,  could  not  be  indifferent  to  the 
claims  that  were  upon  him  at  home;  yet  he  never 
allowed  family,  society,  or  business  affairs  to 
come  between  him  and  his  own  work.  Beyond 
the  simple  matter  of  taking  care  of  his  scanty 
means,  he  paid  but  little  attention  to  business. 
He  was  not  negligent,  however,  respecting  the 
ordinary  affairs  of  domestic  life.     He  was  handy. 


116  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

and  ready  to  help  when  at  home.  If  the  bishop 
was  ever  especially  awkward,  it  was  when  he  un- 
dertook to  handle  a  baby.  But  even  in  this,  ac- 
cording to  the  testimony  of  one  who  knew  best, 
he  made  commendable  eflbrts. 

It  is  a  gratifying  fact  that  the  bishop  kept  a 
careful  diary  through  a  number  of  years.  In  this 
way  some  of  his  best  thoughts  have  been  pre- 
served from  oblivion.  The  reading  of  these  daily 
records  enables  us  to  feel  anew  his  warm,  throb- 
bing heart,  and  the  influence  of  his  godly  life. 
"With  the  exception  of  occasional  interruptions, 
this  diary  runs  through  a  period  of  fifteen  years. 
Scarcely  anything  can  be  better  for  us  than  to 
take  a  little  time  from  our  busy  pursuits  or  slug- 
gish ease  and  devote  it  solely  to  following  the 
now  sainted  Edwards,  as  by  his  cares  and  strug- 
gles he  seems  to  draw  so  much  of  heaven  to 
earth  and  lift  so  much  of  earth  to  heaven.  The 
following  will  serve  as  specimens: 

January  1,  1850.  This  day  I  covenant  with  God  to  be 
more  diligent  in  secret  prayer  and  reading  the  Bible.  Will 
endeavor  to  make  it  a  rule  to  read  five  chapters  every  day. 
Have  this  day  enjoyed  a  living  peace.  Faith  unbroken. 
Christ  my  sanctification  near. 

Saturday,  January  5.  Another  week  is  gone,  and  oh,  how 
little  progress  the  soul  is  making  in  true  spirituality!  O 
Lord,  enlarge  my  poor  heart.  Received  a  singular  letter 
from  a  man  in  New  York,  sent  by  Brother  Pratt;  savors  of 
come-outism,  fanaticism,  and  censoriousness. 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  117 

Sunday,  January  6.  Preached  at  Knapp's  School-house. 
Good  congregation,  and  good  attention.  Tolerable  liberty. 
The  Lord  bless  the  sermon. 

January  7.  This  day  left  my  dear  family  in  God's  care 
and  started  on  a  tour  south. 

January  12.  Quarterly  meeting  at  Gilboa.  Preached  at 
«leven  o'clock  with  liberty.  Oh,  what  a  weight  of  glory! 
The  Lord  is  my  light  and  my  salvation.  How  indescribable 
is  the  love,  peace,  and  joy  that  fill  my  soul ! 

Sunday,  January  13.  Preached  at  the  quarterly  meeting 
on  the  great  salvation.  The  Lord  was  present  in  power. 
Glory  to  his  name.     Boundless  love.     Oh,  such  views! 

January  14.  Love-feast  and  sacrament.  A  good  time. 
One  brother,  a  good  preacher,  claimed  the  blessing  of  a  clean 
heart;  also  a  sister  in  the  evening. 

January  15.  The  quarterly  meeting  continues.  The  light 
and  glory  are  overwhelming.      Praise  the  Lord,  O  my  soul. 

January  17.  Meeting  still  continues.  The  Lord  is  with 
us  in  power.  Still,  it  seems  that  the  people  trust  too  much 
to  the  preaching  of  the  word. 

January  18.  Preached  at  night  with  great  diflBculty. 
Lungs  sore,  and  cough  increases.  The  Lord  will  bring  good 
out  of  it.     The  people  will  work  more  themselves. 

Sunday,  January  20.  Still  at  Gilboa.  Good  time  at  love- 
feast  and  preaching.  Meeting  closed  at  night.  Ten  addi- 
tions. A  number  converted  and  reclaimed,  and  some  sancti- 
fied.    Praise  the  Lord. 

January  24  Started  for  home.  Eode  thirty-nine  miles 
and  put  up  at  Brother  Strayer's.  Very  tired,  but  all  peace 
within.     Frame  of  mind  somewhat  jovial. 

Jamiary  25.  Eode  twenty -six  miles.  Arrived  safe  at 
home.  Found  all  in  usual  health.  Praise  the  Lord.  He 
preserve th  man  and  beast  and  suffers  no  harm  to  come  nigh 
our  dwelling. 

Sunday,  January  27.  Spent  this  day  at  home.  Am  not 
able  to  labor.  Soul  rather  sluggish.  How  it  sympathizes 
with  the  poor  body. 


118  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

January  29.  Just  finished  reading  the  "Philosophy  of  the 
Plan  of  Salvation."  Was  particularly  pleased  with  the 
views  presented  on  the  miracles  of  Egypt  and  the  Jewish 
rites. 

January  30.  Commenced  reading  Nevin's  "Biblical  An* 
tiquities." 

February  2.  Rose  at  four.  .  At  six  and  a  half  started  for 
quarterly  meeting  at  West  Unity,  fifteen  miles  distant.  Ar- 
rived in  time  to  hear  the  elder  preach  a  skim-milk  sermon. 
Preached  from  the  text,  "Let  this  cup  pass."  Tolerable 
liberty,  but  not  with  as  much  power  as  ought  to  accompany 
the  gospel. 

February  6.  Spent  this  day  rather  unprofitably.  Hardly 
know  where  it  went.  Oh,  why  is  not  each  day  and  hour 
full  of  God  and  holiness? 

February  11.  God  be  thanked;  wife  is  better.  This  ia 
also  of  the  Lord.  "He  healeth  all  our  diseases."  Oh,  that 
we  could  always  trust  him  for  perfect  care  of  soul  and  body. 

February  15.  The  sky  is  bright  outside,  but  the  soul  ia 
not  as  full  of  life  and  sunshine  as  it  should  be.  Oh,  for  that 
constant  overflowing  fullness  which  I  preach  as  the  privilege 
of  others. 

February  16.  A  letter  from  Brother  Pratt;  also  one  from 
my  old  friend,  Joshua  Montgomery.  The  principal  part  of 
the  former  taken  up  with  Pratt's  experience.  Hardly  know 
what  to  make  of  his  state.  Can't  condemn  yet.  Don't  un- 
derstand it. 

February  18.  Spent  this  day  in  visiting  at  D.  Butler's  and 
Uncle  Abbott's.  A  kind  of  a  do-nothing  day  to  me;  yet  all 
was  peace. 

February  19.  At  home,  chopping  wood,  reading  Bible 
and  Biblical  Antiquities.  Confidence  in  God  unshaken.  I 
still  will  trust  God  for  all  things.  The  outcome  must  be 
right. 


LIFE   OF  BISHOP   EDWARDS.  119 

February  21.  Feel  much  the  need  of  a  new  anointing  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  to  fit  me  for  the  work  before  me.  It  seems 
that  I  run  too  much  in  the  common  channel.  Lord,  baptize 
me  anew.     Amen,  and  amen, 

March  12.  All  is  well.  "There  is  not  a  cloud  that  doth 
arise  to  hide  my  Savior  from  my  eyes." 

March  13.  Wife's  health  still  poor.  Have  this  morning 
presented  her  before  the  Lord  anew.  Felt  encouraged  to 
trust  and  to  believe  that  all  will  be  right.  How  and  when 
remains  with  him. 

March  25.  Weather  cold,  but  all  is  pleasant  within  the 
spiritual  atmosphere.  What  an  unusual  state  my  soul  haa 
found. 

March  26.  Invited  to  Uncle  Abbott's  with  the  family. 
How  difficult  to  make  such  visits  truly  profitable  I 

April  1.  Must  have  more  of  the  fullness  and  power  of  the 
gospel.     Oh,  how  lean  I  am. 

April  2.  Lucretia's  health  still  poor.  But  all  is  in  the 
Lord's  hands.  Had  I  more  faith,  might  I  not  ask  and  get 
an  answer? 

April  6.  Preached  a  funeral.  Great  effect  on  the  congre- 
gation ;  but  all  through  sympathy,  I  fear. 

April  8.  Garden  plowed.  Soul  needs  plowing  up  thor- 
oughly. Oh,  how  is  it  that  I  have  so  little  inward  and  out- 
ward power?  Why  so  little  of  the  Holy  Ghost?  0  Lord, 
show  the  cause. 

April  9.  Somewhat  gloomy.  Seem  to  be  accomplishing 
nothing.  Sinners  sleep  all  around  me  apparently  undis- 
turbed. Am  I  a  Christian  at  all  ?  Then  why  doing  noth- 
ing? 

April  10.  Feel  like  crying,  "My  God,  why  hast  thou  for- 
eaken  me?" 

April  11.     Gloomy  horror  increases.     The  only  such  sea- 


120  LIFE   OP   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

son  for  eighteen  months.  Good  will,  yea  must,  come  from 
all  this. 

April  12.  Begin  to  see  day-light.  See  in  part  the  design 
of  my  trial.  Had  been  sailing  so  smoothly  so  long.  Needed 
just  such  a  lesson  on  momentary  dependence  on  God. 
Glory. 

April  13.  How  good  the  Lord  is!  He  turns  even  temp- 
tation to  our  spiritual  benefit. 

April  15.  Feel  a  burning  desire  to  be  more  usefully  em- 
ployed. Feel  as  though  I  ought  to  preach  oflener  and  bet- 
ter and  with  more  of  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Horse 
sick.  Wife's  health  poor.  See  no  way  of  being  out  in  the 
work  as  my  soul  would  dictate. 

April  16.  All  is  peace,  but  a  deep  sense  of  my  need  of  a 
fresh  anointing  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

April  20.  Rode  to  Bottenburg's.  Preached  at  night. 
Rather  dry.  Feel  like  a  backslider.  Lord,  save  me  from  so 
great  a  death. 

April  23.  How  defective  is  my  Christian  character.  How 
little  fruit  unto  holiness.  Tlie  Lord  is  leaving  me  to  myself 
to  convince  me  how  barren  I  am  without  him. 

Sunday,  April  28.  Quarterly  meeting  at  Shafer's.  I 
preached  at  three  o'clock  with  good  liberty.  Thank  the  Lord 
even  for  this. 

April  29.  Love-feast  and  sacrament.  Was  impressed  to 
speak  of  the  great  salvation.  Told  my  experience,  which 
was  blessed  to  some  who  seemed  on  the  verge  of  the  land. 

May  2.  My  spiritual  state  is  ratlier  variable.  I  now  have 
seasons  of  heaviness.  Have  I  backslidden,  or  does  the  Lord 
intend  to  lead  me  up  another  step?  Lord,  reveal  my  true 
coudition.  Lead  nie  into  all  the  glorious  fullness,  whatever 
the  road  may  be. 

May  5.     This  day  I  am  thirty-four  years  old.  How  swiftly 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  121 

my  years  are  being  numbered  !     How  slowly  I  am  progress- 
ing in  the  divine  life. 

May  10.  Spent  the  forenoon  in  visiting;  not  very  profit- 
able. Am  to  preach  at  four  o'clock.  0  Lord,  help.  He  did 
help.     Was  much  blessed  in  preaching  the  great  salvation. 

May  22.  Visited  a  young  man  at  the  point  of  death.  He 
says  he  has  peace.  But  oh!  these  death-bed  conversions, — 
who  can  trust  tl>em  ? 

May  23.  Body  is  tired.  Soul  not  half  enough  alive.  O 
Lord,  baptize  me  anew.     Amen.     Let  it  come  now. 

May  24.  County-seat  located  two  miles  east  of  my  land. 
Some  advantage  to  me  personally.  This,  too,  is  of  the  Lord, 
and  shall  return  to  him. 

May  25.  Worked  hard  all  day,  but  do  not  feel  tired. 
Prayed  in  the  morning  for  strength.     Praise  him. 

3Iay  31.  Left  family  and  horse  in  God's  care,  and  rode 
with  Brother  Bowser  to  quarterly  meeting  at  Gilead.  Lord, 
anoint  me  for  the  work.     Oh,  for  the  divine  unction. 

June  3^.  Love-feast  in  a  barn.  Experiences  very  shallow. 
Mere  desire  to  get  to  heaven  to  see  friends,  &c. 

June  7.  The  Lord  sent  us  a  little  shower.  Oh,  how  re- 
freshing.    Thank  him  for  every  drop. 

June  8.  Received  a  letter  from  Brother  Lawrence  on  the 
subject  of  our  difference  of  views  on  sanctification.  He  la 
tempted  at  being  told  that  some  have  been  discouraged  in 
eeeking  through  his  influence.     Lord,  teach  him. 

June  10.  Asked  the  Lord  for  a  .sign.  Feel  that  this  waa 
wrong.  Evidence  of  weakness  of  faith.  Oh,  for  an  increase 
of  the  precious  grace.     Lord,  help. 

June  16.  The  Lord  present  in  preaching.  Felt  old-fash- 
ioned.    Yet  a  lack  in  results.     Oh,  for  power. 

June  19.  Preached  at  Hatfield's.  Tolerable  liberty.  Quite 
plain  and  pointed.     Some  of  it  will  be  remembered. 


122  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

June  21.  Dined  with  Brother  Mackey;  a  wonderful  man 
for  dictionary  terms,  yet  a  fine  kind  of  a  man. 

.August  7.  Getting  ready  to  start  to  the  conference.  Lord, 
prepare  the  soul. 

"What  do  these  experiences,  taken  here  and 
there  from  the  diary  of  a  part  of  one  year,  indi- 
cate? A  soul  fitfully  given  to  God?  Rather  have 
we  not  here  what  should  characterize  the  experi- 
ence of  every  Christian,  especially  the  heart-hia- 
tory  of  every  Christian  minister?  Many  do  not 
know  the  price  that  must  he  paid  for  an  experi- 
ence fresh  and  continually  renewed.  How  sad 
when  the  first  high  promptings  of  the  renewed 
heart  are  accommodated  to  a  half-way  standard. 
Who  can  imagine  the  inner  woe  of  that  man,  the 
first  gushings  of  whose  spiritual  life  have  become 
a  dried  channel?  Upon  the  lips  of  such  men  the 
laniruao;e  of  Canaan  becomes  the  weakest  and 
the  most  repulsive  cant.  Bishop  Edwards  could 
have  preached  metaphysics  from  the  atmosphere 
of  books,  moral  practice  from  that  of  the  world, 
theology  from  that  of  tlie  school  or  study;  but 
how  could  he  preach  the  gospel — herald  tlie  glad 
tidings, — except  from  the  influence  of  the  closet 
and  a  fresh  anointing  for  the  holy  work?  He 
must  preach  the  truth  from  the  heart  and  with 
the  authority  of  the  Court  of  heaven. 

During  these  months  he  had  preached  almost 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  123 

every  Sabbath.  He  also  preached  many  times 
througb  the  week.  He  attended  quarterly  meet- 
ings, protracted  meetings,  made  two  trips  into 
Michigan,  and  kept  up  a  considerable  correspond- 
ence. It  is  not  the  easiest  thing  for  a  minister 
in  the  country  to  make  and  fill  school -house 
appointments  in  his  own  neighborhood  and  at  a 
distance.  Again,  it  is  not  as  easy  as  many  imagine 
for  a  man  in  a  general  office,  and  sustaining  gen- 
eral relations,  and  these  relations  more  toward 
professors  of  religion  than  the  non  -  professing 
classes,  to  keep  up  the  interest  and  activity 
which  in  others  are  in  some  degree  produced 
locally  and  mechanically.  It  requires  salt,  self- 
direction,  and  much  partaking  of  the  divine 
nature. 

We  must  now  prepare  to  attend  Bishop  Ed- 
wards as  he  makes  his  second  round  of  visiting 
the  conferences.  But  this  time,  and  for  the  follow- 
ing two  years,  he  will  serve  in  his  own  district. 
The  following  sad  words  indicate  the  spirit  with 
which  he  started  out  on  this  round:  "Left  my 
family  in  the  care  of  my  heavenly  Father  and 
started  for  White  River  Conference.  Never  before 
have  I  left  home  with  so  sad  a  heart.  Wife's 
health  quite  poor,  and  one  of  the  children  not 
well.  Shall  I  ever  see  them  all  again  in  this 
world?     For  some  time  I  could   not  banish  the 


124  LITE    OF    BISHOP    EDAVARDS. 

thought.  Nature  felt  keenly,  aud  the  thought 
almost  found  a  place,  This  is  hard  business.  But 
in  a  moment  it  was  suggested,  The  Lord  lives 
and  will  provide.  My  faith  wavered  not,  but 
still  the  day  was  spent  in  sadness.  Lord,  help. 
Give  me  the  spirit  of  resignation.  Give  me  souls, 
and  I  shall  be^  content  to  bear  all, — live  in  poverty 
and  die  in  penury." 

As  he  proceeded  on  his  way  he  preached  four 
limes.  The  seventh  night  he  stopped  with  an 
old  friend,  Brother  M., — "  the  same  man  that  he 
was  years  ago;  as  full  of  argument  and  error 
as  ever."  White  River  Conference  convened  on 
August  22,  1850,  at  Andersonville,  Lidiana,  in  its 
fifth  annual  session.  He  was  so  indisposed  that 
he  was  not  able  to  be  in  the  conference-room  the 
first  day.  In  fact,  his  health  was  quite  poor 
throughout  1849  and  1850;  and  we  shall  yet  find 
occasions  of  trial  and  hinderance  from  his  weak 
physical  condition.  His  entry  for  the  second  day 
was,  "  Through  divine  mercy  I  am  able  to  attend 
conference.  Went  through  more  work  than  I  ex- 
pected. The  Lord  sustained."  Third  day,  "Still 
better;  praise  the  Lord.  Great  want  of  itinerants. 
O  Lord,  send  forth  laborers."  Fourth  day,  Sun- 
day, "  Preached  the  conference  sermon.  A  good 
time.  Very  good  time  in  the  afternoon  at  sacra- 
ment.    The   session    of  conference    was   charac- 


LIFE   or  BISHOP   EDWARDS.  125 

terized  by,  an  earnest  and  enterprising  spirit, 
and  closed  on  Monday  forenoon  with  a  glorious 
time." 

Much  hindered  and  reduced  by  sickness,  he 
proceeded  to  Dayton,  Indiana,  where  St.  Joseph 
Conference  was  to  convene  on  September  5, 1850, 
in  its  sixth  annual  session.  The  bishop  had 
arranged  to  have  the  sessions  of  the  different 
annual  conferences  opened  with  an  hour's  devo- 
tional exercises;  and  at  all  the  conferences  of  the 
district  this  was  observed.  Much  devotion  to  the 
work  marked  the  sessions  of  this  conference. 
The  bishop's  diary  for  the  fourth  day — Sunday — 
says,  "Preached  the  conference  sermon.  The 
Lord  was  present  to  help.  Praise  his  holy  name." 
The  bishop  on  returning  home  found  his  wife 
quite  sick. 

After  a  very  short  rest  he  started  for  Sandusky 
Conference,  to  be  held  at  Bretz  Meeting-house, 
Seneca  County,  Ohio,  on  September  20,  1850, 
which  was  its  eighteenth  annual  session.  In  thi:^ 
period  Sandusky  Conference  was  marked  by  an 
unusually  active  and  progressive  spirit.  The 
bishop's  journal  for  the  twenty-second — Sunday 
— says,  "  Preached  the  conference  sermon.     The 

Lord  was  present  to  help.     Heard  Brother 

at  night.  Good,  straight."  The  entries  of  the  two 
following  days  will  give  a  good  idea  of  the  ses- 


126  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

eion :  "  23d.  An  impressive  time  on  the  reading 
of  the  report  of  the  Stationing  Committee.  A 
remarkable  spirit  of  consecration  pervaded  the 
assembly.  24th.  Conference  closed.  A  very  good 
session.  God  was  present  in  power  last  night 
while  I  tried  to  preach.     Glory." 

He  now  started  for  Scioto  Conference,  which 
was  to  meet  at  Zion  Meeting-house,  Perry  County, 
Ohio,  on  October  3,  1850.  The  second  day  he 
stopped  with  his  brother  Thomas,  at  Delaware. 
He  was  feeling  "  dull, — the  natural  consequence 
of  a  high  state  of  feeling  at  Sandusky  Confer- 
once."  The  bishop  reached  the  neighborhood 
where  Scioto  Conference  was  held,  but  was  not 
able  to  go  to  the  conference  room  during  the  ses- 
sion. A  serious  sickness  ensued,  preventing  him 
also  from  attending  Muskingum  Conference.  A 
bishop  jpro  tempore  was  elected  by  these  two  con- 
ferences, respectively,  to  preside  in  his  stead.  His 
condition  was  quite  alarming;  and  his  detention 
from  home  for  a  considerable  time  was  an  occa- 
sion of  great  anxiety  to  his  family.  The  Church 
also  began  to  fear  that  the  bishop's  health  would 
fail  entirely.  But  from  this  fit  of  sickness  he 
gradually  recovered.  He  returned  home  as  soon 
as  he  was  able,  for  rest  and  recuperation.  On 
the  twenty-third  of  October  of  this  year,  the 
third  daughter  was  born. 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  127 

During  the  first  months  of  1851  he  visited  vari- 
ous points  in  Scioto  Conference,  held  protracted 
meetings,  and  much  of  the  time  preached  almost 
daily.  A  few  notes  from  his  journal  will  best 
indicate  his  spirit  and  work. 

January  11.  Came  to  Winchester,  Church  is  cold.  Old 
sores  remain   unhealed.     Lord,  sharpen   the  Spirit's  sword. 

January  12.     Preached  at  night.     Very  plain  work, 

January!'^.     Preached.    Very  close ;  but  God  was  in  it. 

January  25.  Commenced  a  protracted  meeting  at  Mount 
Pleasant.  Preached.  Had  good  liberty  in  enforcing  the 
religion  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     This  is  the  great  lack. 

January  29.  Tarried  with  Brother  McGrady.  A  good 
home  for  God's  poor  servants.  God  put  it  into  the  good 
brother's  heart  to  give  poor  me  a  three-dollar  bill  toward  my 
expenses. 

January  30.  Spent  this  day  and  night  with  Brother  I. 
Bookwalter.  He  has  lately  got  hold  of  faith  iu  simplicity 
and  power. 

Oh  his  return  from  this  work  in  Scioto  Confer- 
ence he  was  to  preach  for  Rev.  William  Mathers, 
at  "West  Liberty.  Having  been  wrongly  directed, 
he  found  himself,  near  evening,  seven  miles  from 
his  appointment  and  with  very  bad  roads  before 
him.  He  put  his  family  in  a  house,  borrowed  a 
saddle,  and  just  as  the  services  were  beginning 
arrived  at  the  church,  Mr.  Mathers  said  to  him 
that  in  the  circumstances  he  would  have  supposed 
that  lie  would  not  come.     The  bishop  replied, 


128  LITE   OP   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

"When  I  found  that  I  could  reach  the  appoint- 
ment there  was  no  longer  a  question  in  my  mind 
as  to  my  duty.  If  a  preacher  is  not  truthful,  his 
preaching  will  amount  to  very  little." 

Bishop  Edwards  was  an  occasional  contributor 
to  the  Beligious  Telescope  during  this  period.  In 
a  pointed  article  on  "  Skim-milk,  Watered,"  he 
spoke  against  the  weakening  effect  of  too  many 
word^,  and  the  needless  regard  for  what  some  call 
system.  He  also  placed  the  repetition  of  sermons 
from  which  all  vital  moisture  has  departed  under 
the  head  of  "vain  repetition."  He  concluded 
with  the  following:  "Let  ministers  throw  away 
their  old  sketches  and  go  to  the  Bible  and  seek 
the  illumination  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  and  let  them 
depend  as  much  on  one  as  on  the  other.  From 
this  blessed  union  of  God's  word  and  Spirit  a 
fountain  will  be  opened  that  will  fill  the  heart." 

He  concluded  an  article  on  unbelief  with  the 
following  telling  observations:  "Whoever  else 
you  believe  or  disbelieve,  learn  to  believe  God. 
Irrespective  of  the  opinions  of  men,  without 
regard  to  your  circumstances,  frames,  or  feelings, 
believe  God;  give  full  credit  to  the  record  he  has 
given  of  his  Son,  our  Savior.  He,  and  only  he, 
that  believeth  is  saved;  and  that  salvation  is 
always  in  proportion  to  the  measure  of  faith. 
*  The  righteousness  of  God  is  revealed  from  faith 


LITE   OF  BISHOP   EDWARDS.  129 

to  faith,'  This  is  the  lever  that  raises  the  gate 
that  lets  the  waters  of  salvation  flow  to  the  heart. 
Powerful  faith  lifts  the  gate  high  and  overwhelms 
the  soul;  but  unbelief  shuts  the  gate  and  leaves 
the  soul  unsaved,  unblessed." 

"White  River  Conference  met  at  White  Chapel, 
Madison  County,  Indiana,  on  August  21,  1851. 
The  attendance  was  large,  and  the  very  best  feel- 
ing prevailed  during  the  entire  session.  After 
the  usual  preliminaries  the  bishop  said,  "  Now, 
let  us  look  for  fruit.  The  business  of  a  preacher 
is  to  save  souls."  This  was  his  ever-present 
thought.  All  inquiries  respecting  the  labors  of 
the  year  must  hinge  on  this.  It  was  found  that  a 
good  degree  of  success  had  attended  the  labors  of 
the  preceding  year.  Many  souls  had  been  saved. 
The  reform-spirit  was  still  strong  in  the  confer- 
ence, and  the  bishop  was  quite  willing  to  see  it 
assert  itself.  Hence,  resolutions  were  passed 
against  all  secret  orders,  the  use  of  tobacco,  Sab- 
bath desecration,  the  Indiana  extradition  law,  and 
the  fugitive-slave  law.  Vigorous  resolutions  were 
also  passed  in  behalf  of  Hartsville  University. 

St.  Joseph  Conference  convened  on  September 
5,  1851,  at  ISTorth  Manchester,  Wabash  County, 
Indiana.  The  bishop's  opening  address  here  was 
very  impressive,  especially  when  he  alluded  to 
the  passing  away  of  some  old  difficulties  that  had 


130  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

SO  long  affected  the  conference.  "The  band  of 
God,"  said  he,  "  is  now  clearly  seen  in  the  organi- 
zation of  the  conference,  and  in  the  work  given 
you  to  do."  The  bishop  showed  in  this  his  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  men  before  him  and  the 
work  they  represented.  There  was  but  one  reso- 
lution of  general  interest  passed  during  the  ses- 
sion. This  one  complained  of  two  prominent 
members  of  Virginia  Conference  having  announc- 
ed in  the  Religious  Telescope  that  they  could  not, 
and  would  not,  carry  out  the  Discipline  of  the 
Church  on  slavery  and  secret  societies.  Virginia 
Conference  was  uro^ed  to  correct  these  abuses. 

O 

Sandusky  Conference  convened  on  September 
18,  1851,  at  Beaver  Creek,  Wood  County,  Ohio. 
The  conference  was  large,  intelligent,  active,  and 
enterprising.  Here  sat  in  council  some  of  the 
foremost  members  of  the  Church.  Notably  among 
these  may  be  mentioned  Biddle,  Spayth,  Bright, 
Lawrence,  Briggs,  Bowser,  Long,  Mathers,  and 
Father  John  Davis.  The  bishop  always  felt  at 
home  in  the  presence  of  such  men  as  these.  He 
was  himself  keen,  quick,  and  thoroughly  posted 
in  parliamentary  law.  The  labors  of  the  year  just 
closed  were  marked  with  success.  There  was 
reported  this  year  in  the  lay  membership  of  the 
conference  a  net  increase  of  eleven  hundred  and 
sixty-four.    This  success  was  due,  at  least  in  part, 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  131 

to  the  ceaseless  labors  of  Bishop  Edwards,  who  at 
this  time  lived  within  the  bounds  of  the  con- 
ference. Here,  as  elsewhere,  much  excitement 
prevailed  respecting  the  attitude  of  Virginia  Con- 
ference on  the  subject  of  slavery  and  secret 
societies.  A  resolution  was  passed  censuring  the 
conduct  of  two  leading  members  of  said  confer- 
ence for  publicly  announcing  in  the  Religious 
Telescope  that  they  would  not  enforce  the  Disci- 
pline of  the  Church  on  these  subjects.  Bishop 
Edwards  was  known  to  be  in  full  sympathy  with 
these  eflbrts  to  correct  the  matter  complained  of, 
and  by  this  means  maintain  peace  and  harmony 
throughout  the  Church. 

Scioto  Conference  met  on  October  2,  1851,  at 
Otterbein  Meeting-house,  Fayette  County,  Ohio. 
As  soon  as  the  bishop  entered  the  conference 
room  it  was  observed  that  a  great  change  had 
come  over  him  since  his  last  visit.  A  year  ago 
he  was  sick  and  unable  to  attend  to  the  business 
of  the  conference.  But  at  this  session  he  was  in 
good  health  and  full  of  cheer.  This  was  indicated 
alike  by  his  fervent  prayer  and  the  strong  tone  of 
his  opening  address.  The  presence  of  his  old 
and  well-tried  friends  seemed  to  inspire  him  with 
new  courage  and  vigor.  With  these  faithful  and 
devoted  itinerants-  he  had  long  lived,  struggled, 
and  suffered.     These  brethren  had  taken  him  by 


132  LIFE   OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

the  hand  when  he  was  a  feeble,  staggering  boy, 
and  helped  him  forward  in  the  work  of  the  Mas- 
ter. The  conference  was  largely  attended.  Van 
Demark,  Hanby,  Montgomery,  Fisher,  Ambrose; 
Gillespie,  and  Kretzinger  were  among  the  more 
aged  and  widely-known  members  of  this  confer- 
ence at  the  time  referred  to.  Tho  report  showed 
that  the  labors  of  the  year  just  closing  had  been 
successful.  Many  souls  had  been  garnered  for 
the  Lord.  The  spirit  of  reform  was  strong  and 
active.  Hence  resolutions  against  slavery  and 
secret  societies  were  passed.  Education  in  gen- 
eral, and  Otterbein  University  in  particular,  were 
warmly  favored.  In  the  adoption  of  these  meas- 
ures of  public  interest  the  life  and  spirit  of  Bishop 
Edwards  are  clearly  seen.  His  conferences  usually 
reflected  his  views  and  sentiments. 

The  diary  for  1852  has  unusual  interest.  Hence 
the  extracts  from  it  will  be  quite  copious^ 

January  25,  1852.  On  examining  my  life,  past  and  pres- 
ent, I  find  several  radical  defects,  such  as  sluggish  inactivity, 
aversion  to  writing,  misiniprovement  of  time,  etc.  Have 
often  resolved  upon  and  even  commenced  a  daily  record  of 
my  states  and  employments,  but  have  not  hitherto  continued 
till  a  habit  was  formed.  In  God's  name  and  by  his  strength 
I  this  day  commence  once  more. 

I  was  born  of  the  flesh  in  Wales,  May  5,  1816,  and  of  the 
Spirit  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio.  May  28,  1834;  was  bap- 
tized anew,  and  received  the  evidence  of  entire  consecration 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  133 

to  God  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  January  2,  1845 ;  so  that 
for  nearly  eighteen  years  I  have  had  some  religion,  and  for 
seven  years  have  been  trying  to  live  wholly  consecrated  to 
Ood.  But  what  am  I  yet  but  a  mere  cipher,  a  babe  iu 
Christ?  I  must  still  plead  for  mercy.  Christ,  who  died  for 
me,  is  my  only  hope.  But  shall  I  continue  to  live  so  cold,  so 
sluggish,  so  little  by  rule?  By  divine  help  I  will  reform.  I 
■will  rise  earlier,  will  write  more,  be  more  methodical  in  my 
studies  and  devotions;  will  talk  and  preach  more  definitely 
of  the  great  salvation  through  Christ.     Lord,  help. 

January  29.  Commenced  reading  "  Beecher'a  Lectures  to 
Young  Men."  The  strength,  variety,  and  eloquence  of  his 
language  so  eclipses  everything  of  the  kind  in  me  that  I 
hardly  know  how  I  can  talk  or  write  at  all. 

Brother  P.,  spoken  of  below,  was  a  man  whose 
views  and  life  amounted  to  a  hopeless  extrava- 
gance on  the  subject  of  sanctification. 

February  4.  Received  a  letter /from  Brother  P.  on  the 
new  state  in  which  he  professes  to  stand.  The  train  of 
thought  brought  up  is  somewhat  painful,  and  yet  I  can 
scarcely  tell  why.  If  he  is  wrong,  and  is  coming  out  from 
all  that  is  common  for  Christians  to  practice,  this  would  give 
me  sorrow ;  but  if  he  is  right  and  I  wrong,  this  would  be  a 
source  of  sorrow.     But  God  will  guide  me  aright. 

Bishop  Edwards  next  gave  an  account  of  mak- 
ing benches  and  preparing  his  house  for  a  pro- 
tracted meeting.  The  meeting  resulted  in  having 
twenty-two  conversions.  He  afterward  took  his 
wife  and  two  youngest  children  and  started  on  a 
long  and  laborious  tour  through  Muskingum 
Conference. 


134  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

March  6.  In  Muskingum  Conference.  I  tried  to  preach 
at  night.  Some  liberty,  yet  the  effort  seemed  somewhat 
forced.     Oh,  when  shall  I  be  filled  with  God ! 

March  13.  Canaan  Center.  Preached  five  times  at  the 
quarterly  meeting.  Generally  good  liberty.  Here  the  elder, 
.in  accordance  with  the  desire  of  the  people,  debarred  persons 
belonging  to  secret  societies,  and  those  in  favor  of  such  socie- 
ties, from  communing.  Don't  know  how  this  would  do  else- 
where, but  here  among  Antimasons  it  does  well  enough.  Yet 
it  seems  to  me  consistent  for  us  to  refuse  to  commune  with 
those  whom  we  would  exclude  from  the  Church. 

March  20.  Went  to  a  quarterly  meeting  near  West  Brook- 
field.  Preached  four  times.  Tolerable  liberty,  but  eflTect 
not  great.  Curiosity  up;  too  many  preachers  present.  True 
piety  seems  to  be  at  a  low  ebb  here ;  preachers  seem  to 
depend  on  mechanical  effort  to  save  souls.  Bro.  B.  made  me 
a  present  of  a  good  pair  of  shoes.  God  will  reward  him. 
Wrote  to  John  Lawrence,  expressing  my  temptation  and 
grief  over  some  things  in  an  editorial,  especially  on  slavery. 

March  31.  Preached  at  night.  Some  intellectual,  but  na 
spiritual  liberty.  This  day  was  spent  unprofitably.  Find  it 
difficult  to  converse  profitably  with  the  preachers  of  this 
conference.  They  are  so  full  of  quibbles.  I,  too,  lack  spirit- 
uality and  faith. 

April  2.  Spent  the  forenoon  in  visiting  entire  strangera, 
and  conversing  on  religion.  Found  it  profitable  to  me,  if 
not  to  them. 

On  his  return  from  his  Muskingum  trip  he 
passed  through  Westerville. 

April  21.  Westerville.  This  day,  after  serious  delibera- 
tion,  it  was    agreed  upon    by    Brothers and   myself 

to  start,  at  some  future  day,  a  magazine  of  elevated  and  un- 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  185 

compromising  standing  in  morals  and  literature.  Tli*  object 
is  to  advocate  true  godliness,  or  luiity  with  God  in  all  things. 
If  this  is  of  God,  we  crave  and  expect  his  blessing.  If  nut 
of  him,  we  pray  it  may  not  succeed.  Our  plan  is  to  unite  ten 
or  fifteen  who  may  be  willing  to  give  one  hundred  dollars 
each  as  stock, — the  work  not  to  commence  till  fifteen  hun- 
dred subscribers  are  obtained.  The  association  will  meet 
the  first  time  at  Winchester,  next  fall. 

May  22.  Received  a  letter  from  Brother  J.  Lawrence, 
written  evidently  under  excitement  occasioned  by  an  arti- 
cle of  mine  on  the  slavery  question.  Will  answer  it  in  a 
religious  manner,  if  God  will  give  me  grace. 

June  6.  Preached  a  dedicatory  sermon, — my  first  effort  of 
the  kind.  Preached  again  at  four.  Tolerable  liberty  both 
times,  but  I  am  not  fully  alive.     Oh,  for  salvation. 

June  8.  Preached  loudly  and  zealously,  but  no  inward 
power.  About  .seven  mourners  came  out;  but  they  hallooed 
and  pounded  the  benches  so  that  no  satisfaction  could  be 
taken  in  talking  to  them.  Think  likely  enough  one  or  two 
of  them  were  converted. 

June  9.  Feel  dull  and  stupid  in  soul  and  body.  It  seems 
to  me  that  I  am  a  poor  preacher  and  Christian — so  little 
emotion,  so  little  hungering  and  thirsting  for  God  and  souls, 
I  seem  not  to  know  how  lo  better  my  state.  I  can  leave  my- 
self in  God's  hands  till  he  comes  to  his  temple.  Oh,  that  he 
might  come  soon.  Preached  at  night.  Several  conversions, 
perhaps,  but  can  scarcely  tell  amidst  so  much  noise  and  con- 
fusion. 

June  11.  Preached  at  night.  A  direct  attack  upon  sin- 
ners, but  with  little  apparent  effect  on  them.  A  real  tear- 
ing time,  after  preaching,  among  the  members  and  converts. 
I  almost  fear  that  such  revivals  are  little  better  than  none. 
But  God  can  bring  some  good  out  of  them. 


136  LIFE   OP   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

June  27.  Am  reading  "  Reformed  Pastor,"  by  Baxter.  A 
very  soul-stirring,  serious  work.  Oh,  how  guilty  we  are  as 
members!     Oh,  how  much  I  need  breaking  all  up  anew  I 

August  5.  This  day  bid  adieu  to  wife  and  little  ones  and 
left  them  in  God's  care,  and  started  on  my  last  round  of  con- 
ferences. The  thing  tliat  most  troubles  me  is  the  want  of 
holiness  to  be  useful.  When  I  commenced  serving  the  Lord 
and  the  Church  in  my  present  capacity,  I  thought  I  would 
be  more  alive  to  all  the  great  interests  of  Zion.  Oh,  shall 
the  term  close  without  a  work  for  God?  The  Lord  for- 
bid it. 

August  8.  A  dedication.  Congregation  very  large.  Oc- 
cupied nearly  an  hour  and  a  half  in  talking — I  think  a  very 
unpopular  discourse  here.  Knew  it  would  be,  but  thought 
it  was  needed. 

White  River  Couierence  met  at  Hartsville,  In- 
diana, August  19,  1852,  in  its  seventh  session. 
Here  is  the  seat  of  Hartsville  University.  This 
institution  had  been  founded  but  recently,  and 
very  much  needed  the  patronage  and  fostering 
care  of  the  Church.  During  the  session  of  this 
conference  the  bishop  made  the  following  entries 
in  his  diary: 

August  19.  Tliis  day  comes  the  trying  and  responsible 
business  of  annual  conference.     O  Lord,  help. 

August  20.  Have  been  blessed  in  reading  through  the 
Songs  of  Solomon.  How  I  felt  reproveil  for  tlie  coldness  of 
my  affections  to  Christ.  Tlie  soul  that  is  truly  chaste  and  in- 
tent on  holiness  may  read  this  singular  production  with 
profit. 

Sunday,  August  22.     Preached  at  ten.     Some  liberty,  but 


LITE    OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS.  137 

somehow  feel  dissatisfied  with  the  sermon.  I  am  one  of  the 
poorest  gospel  preachers,  especially  to  occupy  so  responsible 
a  relation.     Oh,  that  I  were  more  like  Christ. 

After  the  close  of  White  River  Conference  the 
bishop  proceeded  to  Pipe  Creek,  Cass  County, 
Indiana.  At  this  place  the  St.  Joseph  Confer- 
ence convened  on  August  28, 1852.  Thirty  mem- 
bers were  present  and  ten  absent.  No  action  of 
the  conference  of  general  interest.  The  bishop's 
•diary  will  let  in  a  little  light  on  the  situation. 

August  28.  Conference  commenced  fairly.  Examinations 
close.  This  conference  district  miserably  butchered  by  a 
half-hearted  itineracy.  , 

September  1.  This  was  a  hard  day  in  conference.  Tried 
to  preach  too.  But  oh  I  what  a  sermon  I  Well,  so  be  it. 
Ood  reigns;  and  even  in  this  his  hand  is  seen.  Who  needs 
humbling  as  much  as  I  do?  God  is  as  kind  in  withholding 
comforting  help  as  in  blessing  with  light  and  joy. 

September  12.  On  my  way.  Tried  to  preach.  Very  poor 
liberty.  But  God  is  in  this  too.  It  was  the  best  he  could 
do  for  me. 

Sandusky  Conference  convened  at  Johnsville, 
Morrow  County,  Ohio,  on  September  16,  1852. 
Sixt3^-four  members  were  present  and  twenty- 
seven  absent.  This  was,  in  many  respects,  a  very 
important  session,  —  none  more  so,  perhaps,  in 
the  history  of  the  conference.  The  spirit  of  prog- 
ress showed  itself  in  bold  and  vigorous  measures 
4u  behalf  of  temperance,  collegiate  and  minis- 


138  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

terial  education,  and,  especially,  foreign  missions. 
Bishop  Edwards  was  highly  pleased.  The  follow- 
ing terse  and  expressive  words  are  found  in  his 
diary: 

September  21.  Conference  closed.  A  very  good  session. 
Several  received  by  licenses  and  transfer. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  he  always  felt  a 
peculiar  pleasure  in  visiting  Scioto  Conference.' 
This  he  did  not  disguise.  Here  he  had  no  un- 
friendly critics.  His  advice  was  usually  accepted 
without  debate.  This  deference  was  awarded 
him  not  solely,  nor  mainly,  because  he  was  bishop 
of  the  conference.  True,  in  this  respect  he  was 
held  in  the  highest  esteem.  But  the  love  and 
respect  shown  him  here  in  his  own  conference 
were  chiefly  personal.  He  had  some  faults,  of 
course;  but  who  could  think  or  speak  of  them  in 
the  presence  of  so  many  virtues?  All  seemed  to 
feel  that  his  guileless  spirit  and  consecrated  life 
were  suflicient  guaranties  that  the  business  in 
hand  would  be  conducted  properly.  In  this  spirit 
of  brotherly  love  and  mutual  regard  Bishop  Ed- 
wards met  Scioto  Conference,  on  September  30, 
1852,  at  Canal  Winchester,  Franklin  County, 
Ohio.  His  diary  will  give  us  some  remarks  upon 
this  session. 

August  30.  A  good  conference,  on  tlie  whole.  Preached 
twice,  with  some  liberty.    At  this  conference  an  arrangemeu* 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  139 

was  entered  into  by  a  number  of  brethren  to  publish  a 
magazine,  to  be  called  "Unity  with  God" — the  name  signifi- 
cant of  its  design.  I  was  elected  as  it3  editor,  but  could  not 
feel  my  way  clear  to  accept  or  decline.  It  seems  to  me  toa 
much  like  taking  myself  out  of  the  hand.^  of  the  Church. 
God  will  give  me  light  against  the  time  when  editorial  serv- 
ice will  be  needed.     Oh,  for  divine  direction. 

Muskingum  Conference  met  on  October  14, 
1852,  at  New  Rumley,  Harrison  County,  Ohio. 
Forty  members  were  present,  and  twenty-eight 
absent.  Here  sat  in  council  some  of  the  strong 
men  of  the  Church,  such  as  S.  Weaver,  J.  Wea- 
ver, C.  Carter,  J.  Carter,  Slutts,  Steward,  Brazee, 
and  Bulger.  Some  of  these  afterward  became 
widely  and  favorably  known  to  the  Church.  J. 
Weaver,  secretary  of  the  conference,  and  after- 
ward bishop,  said,  on  adjournment,  "Thank  God 
for  the  spirit  of  unanimity  that  dwelt  among  ua 
during  our  conference  session."  Bishop  Edwards 
was  also  highly  pleased,  as  the  following  extracts 
from  his  diary  will  show: 

October  14.  A  good  commencement  of  conference.  Preach- 
ed at  night.     God  was  present. 

Sunday,  October  17.  A  grand  day.  God  was  present, 
owning  and  applying  his  word.  Preaclied  plainly  and  point- 
edly. 

October  18.  Conference  closed  at  ten  at  night,  in  a  storm 
of  religious  fervor.  What  a  conference  this  has  beea 
throughout.     Love,  consecration,  and  religious  animation. 


140  LIFB   OP   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

December  6.  In  due  time  arrived  at  home.  Found  all 
right,  for  which  God  be  praised.  I  then  for  five  or  six 
weeks  neglected  my  memorandum,  for  which  I  now  feel 
6ome  guilt  and  some  loss.  God  forgive  me.  I  have  thia 
prayer  to  offer  so  often  in  reference  to  my  neglect  of  this 
duty  that  I  am  ashamed  of  myself.  By  divine  grace  I  will 
begin  anew.     0  Lord,  let  it  be  in  thy  strength. 

It  was  the  custom  of  the  bishop,  after  the  close 
of  his  conferences,  to  travel  and  preach  almost 
incessantly.  His  zeal  and  powers  of  endurance 
were  indeed  remarkable.  He  spent  but  little  time 
in  rest.  Preachers  and  people  closely  watched 
all  his  movements,  and  whenever  they  saw  that 
he  had  a  spare  Sabbath  he  was  expected  and 
urged  to  make  them  a  visit.  He  did  not  need 
much  urging,  however,  for  preaching  was  his 
delight.  This  was  his  one  work.  He  spent  much 
of  his  time  laboring  in  protracted  meetings.  An 
extract  or  two  from  his  diary  will  show  how  he 
struggled  to  save  souls  in  this  way.  In  the 
month  of  December,  1852,  he,  with  others,  con- 
ducted a  protracted  meeting  at  West  Unity,  Wil- 
liams County,  Ohio. 

December  10.  Commenced  the  meeting  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord.     First  sermon  from,  "Can  these  dry  bones  live?" 

December  11.  Have  some  anxiety  for  a  revival ;  but  why? 
Is  it  for  self?  Am  I  unwilling  to  be  disappointed,  and  have 
it  said  that  I  could  do  nothing?  O  Lord,  search  me.  Feel 
very  empty.     My  anxiety  too  forced,  too  human.     Oh,  that 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  141 

God  would  annihilate  me  in  my  own  estimation,  and  work 
fOT  his  glory  in  his  own  way.  Oh,  my  divine  "Potter,"  I 
am  but  clay ;  but  thou  hast  taken  me  in  thine  hand.  I  am  on 
thy  wheel.  Now,  Lord,  make  me  into  any  shape,  and  em- 
ploy me  for  any  use,  that  will  glorify  thee.  Let  this  be  a  new 
era  in  my  religious  history.  My  feelings  this  afternoon  very 
peculiar.  No  message.  Powerfully  tempted  with  unbelief. 
I  try  to  cling  to  the  promises.  Such  a  struggle  I  have  not 
had  for  a  long  time.  Well,  God  says,  "Count  it  all  joy."  If 
I  continue  faithful,  this  trial  is  much  more  precious  than 
gold.     Glory.     This  thought  is  liberty. 

December  14.  Conference  meeting  at  sunrise.  God  was 
present.  Indication  good.  Visited  all  day.  Preached  at 
night  with  solemnity  and  success.  Four  mourners.  A  num- 
ber of  others  were  much  affected.  Great  want  of  activity 
and  faith  in  the  Church.     By  whom  shall  Jacob  arise? 

Sunday,  December  26.  Preached  at  ten,  and  at  night.  The 
meeting  closed,  though  many  seemed  wounded.  Eighteen 
joined  the  Church — a  good  class  of  persons  as  a  whole, 
though  can  not  tell  how  some  of  the  young  and  uninformed 
will  hold  out.  They  will  need  good  nursing.  But  this,  alas, 
is  the  great  want  in  the  Church,  and  a  fruitful  source  of 
backsliding. 

January  12,  1853.  Home.  Feel  somewhat  cast  down  in 
spirit.  Have  perhaps  been  thinking  and  talking  too  much 
of  Bro.  H.'s  hypocrisy,  and  the  evil  and  trouble  he  may  yet 
cause  the  Church.  I  find  that  we.  are  in  danger  of  feeling  too 
hard  even  toward  the  worst  of  men.  Oh,  for  wisdom  and 
love. 

The  conference  sessions  of  1852  were  occasions 
of  much  interest.  Bishop  Edwards  visited  all  of 
his  conferences  this  year,  and  presided  with  great 


142  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

acceptability.  His  health  was  much  better  than 
it  had  been  the  previous  year,  and  the  impressions 
which  he  made  were  correspondingly  stronger. 
The  foreign  missionary  movement  was  favored 
with  his  earnest  and  active  support.  Many  of 
the  leading  men  of  the  Church  were  also  working 
in  behalf  of  this  interest.  Through  the  influ- 
ence of  these  noble  men,  guided  by  the  superior 
judgment  of  the  bishop,  Sandusky,  Scioto,  and 
Muskingum  confarences  formed  themselves  into 
independent  missionary  societies.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  a  great  awakening  in  the  Church 
on  the  subject  of  missions.  About  this  time,  as 
we  have  seen,  the  question  of  slavery  agitated  the 
Church  not  a  little.  Bishop  Edwards  thought  that 
he  could  see,  especially  in  some  localities,  and  on 
the  part  of  a  few  leading  men  of  the  Church,  a 
yielding  to  the  demands  of  the  slave-power.  This 
troubled  his  mind.  Hence,  in  1852,  some  very 
sharp  articles  passed  between  him  and  Rev.  J. 
Lawrence,  editor  of  the  Religious  Telescope,  on  this 
subject.  Mr.  Lawrence  had  at  least  so  much 
yielded  to  the  demands  of  those  who  wished  some 
concessions  made  on  the  slavery  question  as  to 
consider  mitigated  eases  of  slave-holding.  The 
bishop  regarded  the  ground  taken  as  false  and 
dangerous.  He  was  incapable  of  treating  those 
tenderly  who   held  a  thing  as  abstractly  wrong 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  148 

and  yet  in  actual  cases  permitted  or  indulged 
it;  and  in  attacking  a  man's  position  on  moral 
grounds,  lie  knew  not  how  to  save  easily  the 
moral  character  of  his  adversary.  He  did  not 
profess  to  be  able  to  distinguish  between  a  man's 
principles  and  his  character.  Himself  professedly 
opposed  to  abstractions,  he  settled  all  moral  ques- 
tions on  an  abstract  basis,  and  then  proceeded 
regardlessly.  This  characteristic  was  strikingly 
displayed  in  the  controversy  in  question.  The 
case  is  here  introduced  only  to  exhibit  one  of  the 
distinctive  qualities  of  Bishop  Edwards.  Mr. 
Lawrence  easily  succeeded  in  showing  his  inno- 
cent intention,  and  his  antislavery  character  was 
not  such  as  to  require  defense.  The  bishop,  how- 
ever, was  slow  to  mollifj  the  wounds  which  he 
had  made.  This  he  could  not  do  as  long  as  he 
felt  that  he  had  spoken  the  truth.  Sympathy 
could  extort  no  concessions  from  him  when  it 
seemed  to  antagonize  a  clearly-defined  conviction 
of  right.  Hence  he  would  often  be  thought  to 
be  acting  from  personal  feeling,  while  in  fact  he 
would  be  resisting  a  slight  or  injury  to  principle, 
which  others  wore  too  blind,  or  easy-te;mpered, 
to  see.  One  of  his  best  friends  —  and  one  who 
knew  him  well — said,  "  When  he  had  once  taken 
a  position,  he  never  yielded  it — I  was  going 
to  say,  even  if  he  knew  it  to  be  wrong."     Thus 


144  LIFE   OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

it  often  seemed;  though  the  fact  was  that  he 
had  a  grasp  upon  the  qualities  of  things  un- 
known to  the  most  of  those  about  him.  It  is 
clear  that  when  the  abstract  barrier  is  broken 
down,  it  is  difficult  to  fortify  against  the  diversi- 
fied complexions  of  individual  examples.  Stead- 
fast principles,  along  with  his  extraordinary 
discernment,  promptness,  and  vigor,  made  him 
a  trusted  leader, — made  even  his  name  a  tower 
of  strength. 

During  this  his  first  term,  he  not  only  showed 
himself  adequate  as  a  superintendent,  but  also 
made  himself  a  powerful  element  in  stimulating 
the  work  and  directing  the  interests  of  the  con- 
ferences. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

General   Conference    of   1853  — Re-elected   Bishop  —  Editorial 
Labors — The   Conferences — Missionary  Board — Incidents. 

^HE  General  Conference  that  met  at  Mii- 


i 


tonville,  May  9,  1853,  was  opened  with 
devotional  exercises,  led  by  Bishop  Ed- 
•3S:  wards.  Bishop  Erb  was  not  present,  and  the 
duty  of  presiding  thus  fell  entirely  upon 
Bishops  Glossbrenner  and  Edwards.  Fourteen 
annual  conferences  were  represented  by  forty-two 
delegates.  The  session  was  one  of  unusual  inter- 
est and  importance.  The  bishops,  when  not  pre- 
siding, took  part  in  the  proceedings. 

An  excellent  course  of  reading  for  licentiate 
preachers  was  defined  and  enjoined  at  this  ses- 
sion. This  was  the  first  of  the  kind  in  the 
United  Brethren  Church.  Bishop  Edwards  was 
on  the  committee  that  reported  this  measure,  and 
warmly  advocated  its  adoption.  True,  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  1845  had  required  systematic 
reading  and  study,  but  did  not  lay  down  any 
complete  course.     Hence  the  action  of  1853  was 

a  lonof  step  forward,  and  of  course  did  much  to 
*i«  145 


146  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

increase  the  power  and  efficiency  of  the  ministry. 
This  was  a  favorite  measure  of  Bishop  Edwards. 
While  he  always  insisted  on  a  divinely -called 
ministry  and  dependence  on  the  Holy  Spirit,  he 
regarded  neglect  of  the  ordinary  sciences  in  their 
secondary  relation  as  shameful  and  sinful. 

The  question  which  elicited  much  discussion, 
however,  was  the  nature  and  extent  of  human 
depravity.  A  few  of  the  members  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  objected  to  the  doctrine  of 
"  total "  depravity  as  held  by  the  orthodox 
church.  It  was  affirmed  by  those  who  held  this 
view  that  before  the  promise  man  was  totally 
depraved,  but  not  afterward.  That  is  to  say,  the 
death  of  Christ  had  so  far  affected  the  moral 
nature  and  condition  of  man  as  to  make  it  im- 
proper to  use  the  term  "  total "  as  applied  to 
human  depravity.  There  were  no  differences  of 
opinion  respecting  the  nature  or  extent  of  the 
atonement.  The  common  ground  of  belief  was 
that  Christ  did  so  die  for  the  whole  human  raje 
as  to  make  salvation  attainable  by  all  men.  It 
was  also  agreed  that  man  in  his  present  condi- 
tion is,  in  fact,  deeply  depraved  and  sadly  in  need 
of  Christ's  salvation.  The  only  question  in  dis- 
pute related  to  the  extent  of  man's  depravity 
under  Christ's  remedial  scheme. 

While  the  subject  was  under  discussion,  Bishop 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  147 

Edwards  made  an  earnest  speech,  which  was  re- 
ported as  follows: 

"  The  discussion  to  me  has  been  pleasant.  I  am 
glad  to  learn  that  the  brethren  are  not  as  far  apart 
as  has  been  apprehended.  If  the  brethren  mean 
all  they  say,  why  not  pass  the  resolution  at  once? 
Mr.  Fletcher  says  that  certain  doctrines  are  like 
the  first  link  in  a  chain;  they  draw  all  the  other 
parts  after  them.  The  doctrine  of  natural, 
hereditary,  total  depravity  is  one  of  these  impor- 
tant links.  Tell  a  man  that  it  is  only  the  outside 
that  is  corrupt  and  he  will  settle  down  in  his  sins. 
From  a  child  I  had  myself  been  trained  to  church- 
going  and  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  but 
withal  did  not  see  the  depravity  of  my  own 
heart.  It  is  of  great  importance  that  we  all  be 
able  to  see  alike  in  regard  to  this  vital  doctrine. 
This  is  a  doctrine  from  which  if  you  remove  any- 
thing you  destroy  it  all.  I  go  with  all  my  heart 
for  this  resolution.  The  Bible  and  God's  provi- 
dence concur  in  its  support.  Glance  back  at 
those  ecclesiastical  bodies  which  have  denied  this 
doctrine,  and  you  will  witness  not  the  light  and 
salt  of  the  world,  but  all  manner  of  heresy  and 
corruptness.  On  the  other  hand,  those  churches 
which  have  held  and  maintained  this  doctrine 
have  been  saved  from  all  these.  Personal  expe- 
rience would  teach  us  here,  and  confirm  the  doc- 


148  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

trine  before  us.  The  nearer  I  approacla  to  the 
Lord  the  more  I  discover  the  depravity  of  my 
own  heart.  If  there  is  no  other  totally-depraved 
person  on  earth,  I  know  one." 

At  this  General  Conference  the  "  Home,  Fron- 
tier, and  Foreign  Missionary  Society "  was  form- 
ed. The  missionary  Board  established  at  the 
General  Conference  of  1841  did  nothing  before 
the  spring  of  1852,  and  before  the  meeting  of  the 
present  conference  only  two  missionaries  had 
been  appointed  by  it.  Bishop  Edwards  had  given 
the  missionary  movement  warm  support  at  San- 
dusky Conference  in  1852,  and  but  little  remain- 
ed for  the  General  Conference  of  1853  but  to 
give  it  direction  and  authority.  Untold  good  has 
come  to  the  Church  and  to  many  perishing  souls 
through  tlie  zeal  and  methods  of  missionary 
work  developed  at  this  time. 

At  this  session  of  conference  it  was  resolved 
that  a  magazine,  denominated  "  The  Unity  with 
God,  and  Magazine  of  Sacred  Literature,"  be 
published.  For  more  than  a  year  prior  to  the 
conference,  the  magazine  had  been  in  contempla- 
tion; and  a  voluntary  association  had  been  formed 
for  its  publication.  The  plan  was  a  favorite  one 
with  Bishop  Edwards  from  the  beginning.  There 
was  some  opposition  to  the  publication  of  the 
magazine  in  the  independent  manner  proposed; 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  149 

but  its  publication  under  the  direction  of  the 
Church  met  with  general  favor.  Bishop  Edwards 
was  elected  its  editor.  The  following  from  the 
prospectus,  as  drawn  up  and  presented  to  the 
General  Conference  by  a  committee  of  which 
Bishop  Edwards  was  chairman,  will  give  a  clear 
idea  of  the  place  the  magazine  was  intended  to  fill: 

"Among  the  hundreds  of  serial  publications 
now  issuing  from  the  American  press,  but  few  can 
be  regarded  as  free  from  religious  sectarianism, 
political  partisanism,  and  a  servile  cringing  to 
popular  favor.  Under  such  circumstances  every 
friend  of  sound  literature  and  a  free  Christianity 
should  hail  with  joy  the  appearance  of  any  pub- 
lication, however  humble,  that  will  maintain  an 
unreserved  and  uncompromising  allegiance  to  the 
•cause  of  truth.  The  great  question  should  be, 
"What  is  truth?  And  having  a  solution  to  this 
problem  we  should  embrace  the  truth,  whatever 
may  be  the  personal  and  social  sacrifices  that  it 
may  cost  us. 

"  To  give  to  the  public  such  a  periodical  as  may 
join  the  ranks  of  the  few  already  in  the  field, 
battling  with  error  and  laboring  for  the  redemp- 
tion of  the  entire  human  race,  is  the  most  sincere 
wish  of  the  publishers  of  this  magazine." 

The  following  may  be  regarded  as  characteris- 
tics: "First,  and  above  all,  the  entire  regeneration 


150  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

and  sanctification  of  heart  and  life,  exemplified  in 
all  the  holy  and  living  forms  of  an  experimental 
and  practical  Christianity.  This  we  regard  as  the 
fixed  and  unalterable  basis  of  all  moral  reforms 
which  are  founded  on  truth.  It  will  be  one  of 
our  particular  objects  to  show  that  slavery  is 
sinful  under  all  possible  and  conceivable  circum- 
stances. Freemasonry  in  all  its  forms  and  aspects 
will  be  freely  and  fearlessly  discussed.  It  will  be 
shown  that  all  secret,  oath-bound  societies  are 
anti-social  and  anti-Christian.  It  will  also  be 
our  object  to  advocate  the  cause  of  a  proper  edu- 
cation. Also,  the  biographies  of  distinguished 
ministers  and  others,  and  the  movements  of  the 
age  in  reference  to  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  will 
receive  due  attention." 

The  Sabbath  -  school  interest  received  much 
attention  from  the  conference.  A  Sabbath-school 
paper,  called,  when  published,  the  Children's 
Friend,  was  resolved  on.  Bishop  Edwards  to  be 
the  editor. 

The  General  Conference  decided  on  the  removal 
of  the  Telescope  office  from  Circleville  to  Dayton, 
Ohio.  Eight  new  conferences  were  also  arranged 
for;  namely,  Rock  River,  East  Des  Moines,  Ore- 
gon, Micliigan,  Missouri,  German,  Erie,  and  Au- 
glaize— first  called  Maumee.  This  was  a  long 
step  forward,  and 'did  much  in  pushing  the  cause 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  151 

of  the  Redeemer  into  new  and  destitute  portions 
of  the  West.  The  Church  generally,  at  this  time, 
demanded  aggressive  work,  and  the  General  Con- 
ference thus  nobly  responded  in  adopting  the 
measures  referred  to. 

Bishop  Edwards  was  re-elected  and  assigned 
to  the  Southwest  District.  His  colleagues  were 
J.  J.  Glossbrenner  and  Lewis  Davis.  The  South- 
west District  embraced  Miami,  Indiana,  White 
River,  Wabash,  Illinois,  Missouri,  and  German 
conferences. 

Shortly  after  the  adjournment  of  General  Con- 
ference Bishop  Edwards  moved  with  his  family 
to  Dayton,  Ohio,  his  appointment  as  editor  of  the 
Unity  Magazine  and  Children's  Friend  of  course 
deciding  the  place  of  living  for  the  coming  four 
years.  He  now  sold  his  lands  in  northern  Ohio 
and  turned  the  money  into  a  lot,  with  a  small 
house  upon  it,  on  east  Sixth  Street,  Dayton. 

We  can  see  at  a  glance  that  with  two  additional 
conferences  under  his  charge,  and,  in  connection 
with  his  work  as  bishop,  his  new  editorial  duties, 
some  special  arrangement  must  be  made  as  to 
the  employment  of  his  time.  Hence  his  con- 
ference sessions  were  grouped  within  a  period 
of  three  months  in  each  year,  and  the  remain- 
der of  his  time  was  to  be  devoted  to  editorial 
work.      During   the  time  while  away  attending 


152  LIFE   OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

conferences,  office-help  upon  the  periodicals  was 
to  be  furnished  by  the  trustees  of  the  Printing 
Establishment.  Under  this  arrangement  Rev. 
C.  Briggs  and  Rev.  John  Lawrence  rendered 
assistance  on  the  Unity  Magazine,  and  Mr.  Briggs 
and  Mrs.  Edwards  assisted  on  the  Children's 
Friend.  There  was  nothing  very  formal  in  the 
arrangement,  but  the  logic  of  the  case  and  the 
consent  of  all  concerned  led  to  the  shaping  of 
matters  in  this  manner.  Editorial  work  tilled 
substantially  the  place  that  had  been  previously 
occupied  in  tours  of  preaching,  assisting  at  quar- 
terly meetings,  holding  protracted  meetings,  and 
other  such  labor.  The  change  was  advantageous 
to  the  Church,  though  not  in  itself  more  conge- 
nial to  the  bishop.  Yet  he  preached  very  fre- 
quently, never  declining  appointments  which  he 
could  at  all  fill. 

The  first  number  of  the  Unity  Magazine  was 
published  in  November,  1853.  It  must  be  con- 
ceded that  Bishop  Edwards  possessed  special 
qualifications  for  the  editorship  of  such  a  publi- 
cation. His  simple,  earnest,  Christian  spirit,  the 
solid  qualities  of  his  mind,  his  grasp  upon  sound 
guiding  principles,  his  close  sympathy  with  the 
people,  his  high  moral  aims,  and  his  vigorous 
and  bold  style,  gave  him  no  ordinary  advantage. 
At  this  time,  also,  there  prevailed  very  much  of  a 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  153 

church-spirit.  "What  pertained  to  the  Church,  or 
what  was  put  forth  in  the  name  of  the  Church, 
was  quite  sure  to  receive  general  attention  from 
ministers  and  people.  Yet  the  Church  was 
scarcely  prepared  for  such  a  periodical,  and 
after  the  newness  of  the  enterprise  had  some- 
what worn  away  it  required  special  eftbrts  to 
maintain  a  proper  circulation;  and  two  years 
after  the  editorial  term  of  Bishop  Edwards  ex- 
pired the  magazine  was  discontinued. 

No  one  will  find  fault  at  the  transcribing  of  a 
few  paragraphs,  from  the  pen  of  the  editor,  upon 
such  selected  themes  as  must  ever  be  of  living 
and  absorbing  interest. 

DESIRE   AFTER   HOLINESS. 

A  desire  after  holiness  is  implanted  in  every  truly  con* 
verted  soul.  This  is  true  not  only  of  those  who  have  been 
instructed  definitely  on  the  subject  of  holiness,  but  of  every 
one  who  is  truly  regenerated,  whatever  may  have  been  his 
views.  Even  those  Christians  whose  system  of  belief  leads 
them  to  doubt  its  attainability,  find  themselves  possessed  of 
a  real  living  desire  for  this  grace.  Whether  they  make  it  a 
definite  object  of  thought  or  not,  the  desire  for  deliverance 
from  all  their  indwelling  corruptions  and  for  complete  con- 
formity to  the  divine  image,  rises  up  in  the  soul  like  a  native, 
living  fountain,  seeking  vent  in  streams  of  tears,  sighs,  and 
earnest  ejaculations.  How  many  thousand  times  when  alone 
at  work  or  walking  by  the  way,  have  they  caught  themselves 
exclaiming: 


154  LIFE    OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

"  Oh,  for  a  closer  walk  with  God." 

"  Oh,  that  my  load  of  sin  were  gone, 
Oh,  that  I  could  at  last  submit." 

Every  new  temptation,  every  evil  tliought,  every  duty  or 
trial  that  causes  them  to  reflect  on  their  own  weakness  or 
danger,  only  serves  to  increase  the  inward,  burning  desire 
for  heart-purity. 

This  thirsting  for  holine.ss,  with  more  or  le.ss  vividness,  is 
perceptible  in  the  first  beginnings  of  religious  life,  and  is  in- 
separable from  a  healthy  religious  state  in  any  period.  It  is 
the  foundation  and  the  evidence  of  growth  in  grace.  It  pre- 
cedes and  accompanies  every  advance  in  the  divine  life.  It 
is  not  only  an  inseparable  accompaniment,  but  it  is  also  one 
of  the  essential  elements  of  true  grace,  a  part  of  itself. 
Wherever  grace  is,  there  is  a  desire  for  holiness  and  God.  It 
is  as  natural  for  it  to  call  for  increase  as  for  the  heat  of  the 
fire  to  ascend,  or  for  the  stream  to  seek  its  level.  Wherever 
grace  is  found,  its  natural  tendency  is  to  lead  the  soul  to 
God.  And  then  it  will  as  naturally  and  certainly  lead  it 
upward  along  the  line  of  the  infinite  and  glorious  perfec- 
tions of  the  Almighty,  expanding  and  filling  its  purified  fac- 
ulties interminably. 

This  desire,  in  some  form,  is  applicable  to  all  living  Chris- 
tians, whether  fully  sanctified  or  not,  from  the  babe  in  Christ 
to  the  fathers  and  mothers  in  Israel.  In  the  beginning  of 
the  Christian  life,  before  the  soul  is  saved  from  its  old  habits 
and  indwelling  corruptions,  the  desire  is  niostijrdent  for  de- 
liverance from  these  disturbers  of  its  peace.  After  some 
progress  in  this  direction,  it  takes  the  form  of  a  desire  for 
Bome  needed  grace,  such  as  humility,  meekness,  patience,  or 
charity.  Afterward,  when  tiie  soul  has  gained  many  im- 
portant victories  over  sin,  outward  and  inward,  the  same 
desire  for   holiness,  though  now  somewhat  changed,  refined. 


LTFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  155 

and  elevated,  continues  to  burn  witliin.  Its  burden  now  ia 
not  merely  for  deliverance  from  any  form  of  sin,  nor  for  any- 
particular  grace,  but  its  enlarged  grasp  has  laid  hold  of  God 
himself.     Nothing  else  can  now  satisfy  its  longings. 

"  Thy  gifts,  alas,  can  not  suffice, 
Unless  thyself  be  given," 

ia  its  ceaseless  language.  The  intensity  of  this  elevated 
desire  of  the  advanced  Christian  is  thus  earnestly  expressed 
by  the  psalmist:  "As  the  hart  panteth  after  the  water- 
brooks,  .so  panteth  my  soul  after  thee,  O  God.  My  soul 
thirsteth  for  God,  for  the  living  God:  when  shall  I  come  and 
appear  before  God."  "My  soul  thirsteth  for  tliee,  my  flesb 
longeth  for  thee  in  a  dry  and  thirsty  land,  where  no  water  is." 
How  earnest  this  language!  The  dry,  parched,  and  pleading 
earth;  a  panting,  famishing  heart  in  a  desert  land,  in  full 
chase  to  find  the  cooling  stream  which  alone  can  save  ita 
life.  None  can  anderstand  this  language  but  those  wha 
have  felt  tlie  same  burning  desire  to  be  lost  and  swallowed 
up  in  the  ocean  of  infinite  love.  The  soul  in  its  desire  has 
now  become  so  enlarged  that  nothing  in  earth  or  heaven  can 
satisfy  it.  "Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee?  and  there 
is  none  upon  earth  that  I  desire  besides  thee." 

A  few  thoughts  of  a  practical  nature  are  suggested  by  the 
above. 

I.  Holiness  is  attainable  here.  Else  why  are  such  aspira- 
tions after  it  given  to  every  child  of  God?  Will  our  God  cre- 
ate a  desire  which  he  is  either  unable  or  unwilling  to  fill?  Is 
it  not  written,  "  Blessed  are  they  which  do  hunger  and  thirst 
after  righteousness:  for  they  shall  he  filled  f  Then  let  every 
anxious  soul  give  his  desire  full  vent  before  the  mercy-seat. 
Pour  out  your  heart  with  the  full  expectation  of  receiving, 
even  to  the  fullest  measore,  all  that  Heaven  incites  you  to 
desire. 


156  LIFE   OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

II.  This  subject  affords  an  unerring  test  of  religious  char* 
acter.  Those  who  have  no  desires  for  holiness  have  reason  to 
suspect  their  present  state.  Such  are  undoubtedly  in  a 
backslidden  state,  if  indeed  they  were  ever  converted.  Let 
such  call  to  mind  their  former  experience;  what  groaninga 
to  be  entirely  delivered  from  the  body  of  sin ;  what  longings 
for  more  of  the  mind  of  Christ.  And  just  in  proportion  as 
you  yielded  to  those  desires  in  sincere  efforts  for  complete  de- 
liverance did  Heaven  smile  upon  you.  This  ought  to  have 
encouraged  you  to  press  forward  till  filled  with  holy,  humble 
love.  But  even  now,  cold  and  callous  as  is  your  soul,  if  you 
sincerely  repent  and  return  to  God,  he  is  faithful  and  just  to 
forgive  and  to  cleanse  from  all  unrighteousness. 

RESPONSIBILITY     OF  CHRISTIANS. 

The  responsibility  of  Christians  in  this  world  is  most  fear- 
ful. They  are  the  representatives  of  Christ.  By  their  spirit 
and  lives  will  Christianity  be  judged  by  the  masses  of  men. 
They  are  the  light  of  the  world,  and  the  salt  of  the  earth. 
And  if  the  light  in  them  be  darkness,  how  great  is  that  dark- 
ness 1  How  dreadful  the  consequences  to  the  world  if  the 
salt  has  lost  its  savor! 

There  are  thousands  who  know  nothing  of  Christianity 
only  as  it  is  seen  in  the  lives  of  professors  of  religion.  Being 
far  from  God  and  unacquainted  with  the  Bible,  they  judge 
Christianity  by  the  lives  of  its  professed  friends.  And  when 
Christianity  fails  to  reflect  in  their  lives  the  full  and  clear 
light  of  the  gospel  salvation,  Christianity  suffers  in  the  esti- 
mation of  those  who  knew  it  not.  In  this  way  Christ  is 
wounded  in  the  house  of  liis  friends,  and  betrayed  into  the 
hands  of  his  enemies.  On  this  very  ground  many  have 
turned  away  from  God  and  religion,  who  might  have  been 
saved  had  they  been  surrounded  by  consistent  Chrietian  in- 
fluences. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  157 

UNNECESSARY    DOTAGE. 

Mental  imbecility  in  old  age  has  become  so  common  that  it 
is  looked  for  as  an  inseparable  accompaniment  of  gray  hairs. 
Many  who  have  scarcely  passed  the  meridian  of  life,  under 
the  influence  of  this  error,  suffer  their  minds  to  sink  into  a 
state  of  dozy  inactivity,  and  become  almost  useless.  They 
have  been  taught  to  believe  that  youth  is  the  only  time  for 
mental  improvement;  and  if  they  have  unfortunately  been 
deprived  of  educational  advantages  in  this  "seed-time  of 
life,"  they  suppress  every  mental  aspiration  with  the  slug- 
gard's song  of  "can't  learn  now;  if  I  had  possessed  the  ad- 
vantages in  youth  that  young  men  have  now  I  might  have 
been  something."  By  this  popular  delusion  many  a  mind 
has  been  rocked  to  sleep,  and  induced  to  content  itself  in 
ignorance  and  uselessness. 

INFANT   BAPTISM. 

As  to  infant  baptism,  we  neither  advocate  nor  oppose  it 
strongly.  If  religious  parents  desire  to  consecrate  their  chil- 
dren to  God  in  this  way,  what  harm  is  there  in  it — especially 
if  they  teach  them  that  on  consecrating  themselves  to  Christ 
in  riper  years  they  are  at  liberty  to  be  re-baptized  if  their 
views  of  Bible  requirement  demand  it.  We  have  neither 
time  nor  disposition  to  contend  with  any  one  about  forms. 
Let  us  have  the  living  power,  which  the  best  of  forms  do  but 
faintly  shadow  forth. 

MINISTERIAL  EDUCATION. 

To  lay  down  any  absolute  rule  defining  precisely  how 
much  learning  a  minister  must  have  in  order  to  sacceed  in 
his  calling,  is  what  no  church  can  or  ought  to  do.  Yet  every 
man  who  gives  evidence  that  God  designs  him  to  be  a  minis- 
ter should  be  encouraged,  and,  if  need  be,  assisted  to  obtain 


158  LIFE   OF   BISHOP    EDWAKDS. 

the  best  education  possible  for  tliis  important  and  responsi- 
ble work.  No  office  needs  a  more  thorough  education  than 
that  of  the  ministry;  nowhere  else  can  learning  be  used 
more  profitably.  The  fact  that  God  has  called  and  employed 
with  much  success  men  of  limited  literary  attainments, 
should  never  be  used  as  an  argument  against  a  thorough 
education,  so  far  as  Providence  opens  the  way,  of  all  who  are 
called  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  But  it  must  be  con- 
fessed that  much  of  what  is  called  theological  education 
comes  very  far  short  of  the  training  necessary  to  qualify  men 
to  be  able  ministers  of  the  New  Testament.  Any  school  or 
system  whose  leaching  tends  to  formality,  — such  as  reading 
instead  of  preaciiing,  worshiping  God  by  the  machinery  of 
fashionable  choirs,  organs,  and  fiddles, — that  circumscribes 
and  pampers  the  mind  by  stereotyped  sectarian  dogmas,  or 
that  virtually  exalts  literary  attainments  above  religion,  is 
BO  radically  defective  as  a  means  of  ministerial  education 
that  the  church  of  Christ  would  be  better  off  without  than 
with  it.  It  is  these  defects  in  theological  schools  that  have 
brought  the  subject  of  ministerial  education  into  such  bad 
repute  with  many  good  men.  But  could  we  have  schools 
purged  from  all  such  defects,  where  the  spirit  as  well  as  the 
letter  would  be  taught,  the  heart  cultivated  as  well  as  the 
intellect,  where  holiness  to  the  Lord  would  meet  the  stu- 
dent at  every  step  in  his  studies,  where  self-denial  and  un- 
reserved dedication  to  God  could  be  so  deeply  engraved 
upon  the  hearts  of  the  graduates  that  they  would  come 
forth  to  bless  the  world  with  examples  of  apostolic  zeal  and 
self-sacrificing  labors,  their  influence  would  soon  be  felt 
throughout  the  world.  Who  will  say  that  such  theological 
schools  would  not  be  a  blessing?  Is  there  wisdom  and  piety 
enough  in  the  churches  of  this  age  to  institute  and  sustaiu 
Bchools  of  this  character? 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  169 

SUCCESS   IN   THE   MINISTRY. 

May  the  ministers  of  tlie  gospel  of  Christ  confidently 
expect  success  in  their  calling?  May  they  rationally  hope 
to  accomplish  something  worthy  of  their  high  vocation  on 
every  charge  committed  to  them?  These  questions  may  be 
answered  in  the  affirmative,  most  unhesitatingly.  Otherwise 
their  eflforts  to  save  souls  and  build  up  the  church  are  only 
experiments,  and  they  can  not  labor  in  faith.  The  Savior, 
in  his  great  and  universal  commission  to  his  apostles  and 
ministers  of  every  age,  gives  them  assurance  of  success  in 
their  labors  in  the  consoling  promise,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you 
alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world."  Tliis  can  mean  no 
lesis  than  that  he  will  be  with  them  to  bless  their  labors  to 
the  accomplishment  of  the  work  committed  to  them.  That 
other  declaration  made  at  the  same  lime,  namely,  "These 
signs  shall  follow  them  that  believe,"  etc.,  certainly  implies 
as  much.  Although  its  primary  application  may  be  to  exter- 
nal miracles,  yet  in  a  high  sense  it  points  to  the  spiritual 
power  exerted  in  curing  sin-sick  souls.  It  is  evident  that 
the  apostles  and  early  ministers  of  the  Christian  church  un- 
derstood these  promises  as  a  guaranty  of  success,  and  went 
forth  in  the  name  and  strength  of  the  Lord,  expecting  to 
make  their  mark  for  Christ  wherever  they  could  find  a  place 
to  preach.  The  Apostle  Paul  so  understood  it,  and  poured 
out  his  gratitude  on  this  wise:  "Now  thanks  be  unto  God, 
which  always  causes  us  to  triumph  in  Christ,  and  maketh 
manifest  the  savor  of  his  knowledge  by  us  in  every  place." 
He  ran,  not  as  uncertainly;  he  fought,  'not  as  one  beating 
the  air,"  He  knew  what  he  was  about.  His  success,  both 
in  running  the  Christian  race  and  in  the  labors  of  the  min- 
istry, was  as  certain  as  the  promise  of  the  Eternal.  And 
this  faith  was  not  disappointed;  for  souls  were  converted  by 
thousands,  and  churches  sprung  up  as  if  by  magic  in  every 


160  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS, 

country  and  city  where  this  faithful  missionary  could  gain  a 
hearing. 

"We  see  in  the  writings  of  Bishop  Edwards 
during  this  period  a  more  thorough  maturity  and 
greater  roundness  of  view.  At  an  earlier  period 
he  expressed  himself  unqualifiedly  in  favor  (;f 
general  education,  and  gave  his  decided  influence 
for  schools  and  colleges  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Church.  He  did  not,  however,  give  any  encour- 
agement at  first  to  the  founding  of  a  theological 
institute  by  the  Church.  But  just  as  soon  as  this 
want  became  more  and  more  felt,  and  when  the 
Church  seemed  able  and  willing  to  sustain  an 
institution  of  this  kind,  he  heartily  approved  of 
the  movement.  In  fact,  he  was  never  opposed  to 
a  professional  education  for  the  ministry  when 
of  the  right  kind. 

But  a  passing  reference  ought  to  be  made  to 
those  who  showed  an  interest  in  the  purpose  of 
the  Unity  Magazine,  and  enriched  its  columns  by 
their  contributions.  They  did  their  part  consci- 
entiously and  ably;  and  whatever  changes  their 
views  in  time  may  have  undergone,  their  emi- 
nence in  Christian  character  and  usefulness,  in 
the  subsequent  history  of  the  Church,  indicates 
that  a  spirit  of  definite  consecration  to  God  and 
joyful  acceptance  of  the  great  salvation  produces 
the  surest  and  the  noblest  fruit. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  161 

The  first  number  of  the  Children's  Friend  made 
its  appearance  on  May  6, 1854.  The  subscription 
soon  reached  ten  thousand  copies.  But  what 
qualifications  had  Bishop  Edwards  for  such  a 
paper?  Back  of  the  sterner  appearances  of  the 
man  there  was  ever  a  simple  and  tender  heart. 
He  also  had  well-defined  ideas  and  sentiments  in 
reference  to  what  child-training  ought  to  be,  and 
in  reference  to  the  privileges  and  possibilities 
connected  with  early  piety.  These  elements  may 
not  be  susceptible  of  emphatic  statement,  and 
yet  along  with  superior  good  sense  they  compose 
the  required  qualification  for  making  an  impres- 
sion on  children. 

In  the  first  number  of  the  Children's  Friend  the 
editor,  addressing  the  children,  said,  "  This  paper 
is  printed  on  purpose  for  you.  And  the  editor 
thinks  that  you  have  as  good  a  right  to  have  a 
paper  that  you  can  read  and  understand  and  call 
your  own  as  older  folks  have."  Of  course,  almost 
every  number  must  have  something  on  the  evils 
of  slavery.  Some  having  objected  to  this  feature 
of  the  paper,  the  editor  replied  as  follows:  "  The 
great  majority  of  our  readers,  so  far  as  they  have 
informed  us,  seem  well  pleased  with  the  anti- 
slavery  character  of  the  Friend.  But  a  few,  who 
like  it  in  every  other  respect,  wonder  why  we  do 
not  let  slavery  alone  in  the  children's  paper.    "We 


162  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

answer,  because  the  children  will  soon  be  men 
and  women.  The  presidents,  governors,  legisla- 
tors, voters,  ministers,  and  teachers  of  the  next 
generation  must  be  made  out  of  the  children  of 
the  present;  and  it  will  be  for  them  to  say  whether 
slavery  shall  be  tolerated  to  disturb  the  peace  of 
the  whole  country  and  crush  to  the  earth  millions 
of  our  race  that  are  yet  unborn.  We  would  not 
edit  for  the  children  a  hypocritical  paper, — one 
that  does  not  oppose  popular  sins;  we  love  them 
too  well." 

"  Uncle  Edwards "  sought  to  prepare  the  chil- 
dren for  the  realities  of  life,  instead  of  fanciful 
and  deceptive  scenes  and  encounters.  False  views 
of  things,  unhealthy  stimulus,  appeals  to  the 
lurking  enemies  within  the  soul,  were  entirely 
disregarded;  and  yet  the  simplest  motives  that 
prevail  with  a  child's  heart,  if  only  innocent, 
were  never  disdained. 

The  conferences  attended  in  1853  were  White 
River,  Miami,  Indiana,  Wabash,  Illinois,  and  Ger- 
man. These  had  all  been  visited  during  the 
preceding  term  by  Bishop  Edwards,  except  the 
last  one  mentioned.  The  German  Conference 
had  been  organized  to  meet  the  wants  of  the 
Germans  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois.  Tlieir 
interests  were  not  sufficiently  cared  for  in  connec- 
tion   with  tlie  almost  exclusively  English  char- 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  163 

acter  of  the  conferences.  The  history  of  the  new 
conference  has  vindicated  the  wisdom  of  those 
who  made  this  special  provision  for  the  Germans. 
Bishop  Edwards  at  this  time  could  not  speak 
German,  but  he  could  approve  or  direct  when 
matters  of  business  in  the  conference  were  brought 
before  him.  He  always  took  a  deep  interest  in 
the  German  work;  and  by  the  Germans  he  was 
universally  beloved.  The  Missouri  Mission-con- 
ference held  no  session  in  1853. 

The  conferences  visited  by  Bishop  Edwards  in 
1854  were  the  same  as  those  of  the  preceding 
year,  with  the  exception  of  Illinois.  Rev.  J.  C. 
Bright,  secretary  of  the  missionary  society,  filled 
the  place  of  Bishop  Edwards  at  Illinois  Confer- 
ence, as  also  at  Missouri  Conference.  The  occa- 
sion of  Bishop  Edwards'  failure  to  be  present  at 
all  his  conferences  was  his  extremely  poor  health. 
During  four  months  he  gave  up  preaching  en- 
tirely, and  was  barely  able  to  give  even  a  moderate 
attention  to  his  editorial  duties. 

Bishop  Edwards  was  able  to  attend  all  his  con- 
ferences in  1855.  The  only  conference  with  which 
he  had  not  before  met  was  the  Missouri.  Here 
he  found  himself  surrounded  with  slavery.  Anti- 
slavery  views  had  penetrated  the  country  to  the 
very  smallest  extent.  In  a  letter  to  the  Beligious 
Telescope  he  said,  "  If  the  churches  of  the  South 


164  LIFE    OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

will  not  reform, — of  which  I  see  no  hope, — and 
take  the  Bible  ground  upon  this  great  sin,  then 
the  churches  in  the  North  that  have  the  truth 
ought  to  go  South  and  spread  it  abroad.  It  is  as 
much  their  duty  to  do  this  as  it  is  to  endeavor  to 
redeem  the  heathen  of  distant  countries  from 
idolatry,  caste,  and  polygamy." 

In  1856  Bishop  Edwards  attended  "White  Elver, 
Indiana,  St.  Joseph,  Sandusky,  Scioto,  Illinois, 
Missouri ,  Michigan,  and  Maumee  conferences. 
The  Missouri  Conference  met  at  Rev.  S.  S.  Sny- 
der's, near  Lawrence,  Kansas.  Kansas  at  this 
time  was  the  scene  of  great  agitation.  The  con- 
troversy was  as  to  whether  it  should  be  a  free  or 
a  slave  state  when  admitted  into  the  Union.  But 
the  scales  were  already  turning  in  favor  of  the 
free-state  party.  In  an  account  of  his  trip  west 
this  year  Bishop  Edwards  had  the  following  to 
say  of  Kansas :  "  If  men  will  do  their  work  as 
well  as  the  Creator  has  done  his,  Kansas  will  soon 
be  the  glory  of  all  lands.  Let  it  be  filled  with  free 
schools,  free  presses,  free  churches,  and,  above  all, 
with  free  men  and  women  fully  consecrated  to 
God,  and  it  will  soon  rank  among  the  foremost 
of  the  states  of  this  Union." 

A  few  paragraphs  selected  from  his  communi- 
cations to  the  Religious  Telescope,  during  the 
period   now   under   review,  may   not  be  out  of 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  165. 

place.  They  will  serve  to  show  how  well  he  was 
fitted  to  instruct  and  guide  the  church  of  his 
choice.  Although  literature  was  not  his  favorite 
employment,  he  nevertheless  possessed  rare  power 
and  skill  as  a  writer. 

PAY   THE   PREACHER. 

God  commands  it.  He  has  ordained  that  they  that 
preach  the  gospel  sliall  live  of  the  cospel.  Thou  shalt  not 
(muzzle  the  ox  that  treadeth  out  the  corn.  Reason  unites 
"with  revelation  in  declaring  that  the  laborer  is  worthy  of 
his  hire,  and  that  the  people  who  receive  his  labors  are 
solemnly  bound,  by  every  principle  of  honor  and  religion,  to 
give  him  a  full  equivalent  for  the  time  and  strength  spent  ia 
their  service.  But  it  is  said,  "Our  preacher  does  not  earn 
his  salary.  He  devotes  much  of  his  time  to  his  own  per- 
sonal aflfairs."  There  may  be  instances  in  which  this  is  true, 
and  in  which  the  people  may  be  justifiable  in  withholding; 
but  in  most  cases  it  is  a  mere  excuse  to  justify  a  sinful  de- 
linquency. Men  who  have  talent,  spirit,  and  prudence 
■enough  to  be  useful  as  preachers,  and  are  not  willing  to  live 
beyond  their  income,  or  in  a  land  of  plenty  to  pinch  their 
families  down  to  the  point  of  meanness  to  serve  those  who 
are  getting  rich  fully  as  fast  as  is  for  their  spiritual  health, 
deserve  and  ought  to  receive  a  full  and  hearty  competency 
from  the  Church.  When  the  Church  fails  to  support  com- 
fortably their  families  they  are  driven  to  the  alternative 
either  of  quitting  the  ministry  or  of  devoting  a  portion  of 
their  time  to  other  pursuits.  The  Apostle  Paul  himself,  in 
similar  circumstances,  would  have  taken  a  portion  of  his 
time  from  the  active  duties  of  the  ministry  to  procure  the 
necessities  of  life.  And  if  he  had  been  blessed  with  a  family 
of  children  to  rear  and  educate,  he  would   have  found  it 


166  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

necessary  to  make  and  sell  more  tents  than  he  did.'  The 
minister  sees  his  brethren  educate  their  children,  and  pro- 
vided with  means  whereby  to  exercise  the  virtue  of  hospi- 
tality. He,  too,  has  children  he  loves.  He,  also,  has  a 
hospitable  nature;  and  besides,  he  would  lead  the  people  ia 
benevolence.  But  alas  for  the  means!  No  wonder  that  a 
spirit  of  melancholy  is  molding  his  feauires. 

Thus  Bishop  Edwards  addressed  the  laity.  The 
following  extract  from  an  article  written  at 
another  time  shows  that  he  did  not  intend  his  re- 
marks to  be  taken  advantage  of  by  the  ministry; 

But  our  support!  Oursupport!  Well,  what  of  it?  If  you 
are  really  called  to  the  work,  and  go  trusting  in  God,  you 
will  be  supported.  God  has  pledged  himself  on  this  point. 
Those  who  are  the  most  unreservedly  devoted  to  the  work  of 
saving  souls,  who  throw  their  whole  souls  and  bodies  into  the 
work,  and  manifest  more  concern  for  souls  than  for  their  own 
bread  and  butter,  are  supported.  Our  people  have  eyes  and 
hearts,  and  do  open  their  hands  to  support  those  who  are 
whole-hearted  and  laboring  unselfishly  for  Christ  and  souls. 
But  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  if  some  of  those  who  go  hop- 
skip-and-jump  around  their  circuits,  and  hasten  to  thei» 
farms  and  merchandise  when  the  Church  is  suffering  for 
their  labor,  should  be  pinched  in  their  support.  Yours  for 
an  extended  and  consecrated  itineracy. 

PREPARATION  FOR  THE  PULPIT. 

Among  us  as  a  people  too  little  attention  is  paid  to  pulpit 
preparation.  Its  importance  is  not  sufficiently  appreciated. 
Indeed,  some  are  even  heard  to  boast  that  they  can  preacb 
at  any  time  on  five  minutes  notice;  and  others  condemn  alt 
preparation  as  unnecessary  and  siuful.     It  need  hardly  be 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  167 

stated  that  those  of  the  classes  referred  to  preach  nearly  the 
same  sermon  from  every  text  and  on  every  occasion.  To  the 
honor  of  the  ministry  be  it  said  that  few  now  can  be  found 
who  advocate  openly  this  no-preparation  theory.  Yet  the 
number  who  practice  upon  it,  more  or  less,  is  not  so  small. 
There  is  a  large  class  of  ministers  of  respectable  preaching- 
talent  who  have  formed  habits  of  mental  indolence,  which 
materially  cripple  their  usefulness  as  preachers.  Their  chief 
dependence  is  upon  old  sermons, — often  borrowed  or  stolen 
from  more  studious  ministers, — and  upon  the  impulse  of  the 
moment.  Fortunately  for  this  class  of  preachers,  many  of 
them  possess  a  good  degree  of  religious  fervor,  which  seems 
to  season  what  would  otherwise  be  unpalatable.  But  woe 
be  to  their  congregation  if  their  "  feeling"  is  absent.  A  poor 
sermon  well  seasoned  with  good  feelings  may  be  heard  with 
patience  and  profit;  but  when  both  thought  and  feeling  are 
absent  the  sermon  is  blank  enough.  An  endless  repetition 
of  common-place  phrases  is  neither  instructing  nor  comfort- 
ing to  the  soul. 

Let  no  one  say  that  by  devoting  so  much  time  to  mental 
preparation  the  Holy  Spirit's  influences  will  be  discarded. 
This  need  not,  must  not  be.  A  proper  preparation  for  the 
])ulpit  will  always  include  the  preparation  of  the  heart.  Tlie 
true  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  will  as  earnestly  seek  for  spir- 
itual as  for  mental  power.  Every  sermon  ought  to  be  steeped 
in  tears  and  baptized  witli  the  spirit  of  Jesus  in  the  closet. 
The  minister  thus  prepared  may  enter  the  pulpit  saying,  in 
the  language  of  the  ancient  prophets,  "Tlie  burden  of  the 
word  of  the  Lord."  Thomas  Shepiierd  was  wont  to  say,  "God 
will  curse  tliat  man's  labors  wlio  goes  idly  up  and  down  all 
the  week,  and  then  goes  into  his  study  Saturday  afternoon." 
God  knows  that  we  have  not  too  much  tinfe  to  pray  in  and 
weep  in,  and  in  which  to  get  our  hearts  into  a  fit  frame  for 


168  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

the  duties  of  the  Sabbath,  Mr.  Jay  was  in  the  habit  of 
selecting  his  text  for  the  next  Sabbath  as  early  in  the  week 
as  possible.  By  this  method  he  always  had  something  to  fill 
his  spare  moments.  In  this  way,  approaching  the  subject  at 
different  times  and  from  different  sides  and  aspects,  it  opened 
to  his  mind  more  naturally  and  easily  and  with  more  enlarge- 
ment and  variety. 

The  General  Conference  of  1853  made  Bishop 
Edwards  one  of  the  vice-presidents  of  the  mis- 
sionary society,  founded  at  that  time.  At  the 
first  regular  meeting  of  the  Board,  June  1,  1854, 
Rev.  "W.  J.  Shuey  was  appointed  a  missionary 
to  Africa.  The  Executive  Committee  was  to 
appoint  one  or  more  missionaries  to  accompany 
him.  Other  missions  were  formed  and  a  number 
of  missionaries  sent  out.  Besides  these  was  the 
Oregon  Mission,  together  with  rude  mission-work 
in  the  states  and  territories,  which  existed  prior 
to  the  formation  of  the  Board  of  1853,  and  to 
the  care  of  which  it  succeeded.  Bishop  Edwards 
was  also  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee. 
The  committee  during  the  ensuing  year  appointed 
Rev.  D.  K.  Flickinger  and  Rev.  D.  C.  Kumler  as 
additional  missionaries  to  Africa. 

In  1855  the  missionary  Board  met  in  Cincin- 
nati. A  bold  expression  of  opinion,  and  a  deter- 
mination to  prosecute  to  the  greatest  success  the 
work  of  missions,  characterized  all  the  proceed- 
ings.     Two  of   the   missionaries   to  Africa   had 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  169 

returned,  after  having  explored  tlie  country  for 
three  or  four  months.  It  was  seen  that  the  Afri- 
can mission  required  much  patience  and  money 
in  order  to  make  it  a  success. 

Bishop  Edwards  said  in  a  sermon  preached 
during  the  session  of  the  Board,  "  It  is  not  by 
the  number  of  converts  in  the  missions  alone  that 
we  are  to  estimate  the  result  of  missionary  efforts. 
The  benefit  to  the  societies  contributing  men  and 
money  for  the  work  is  amply  sufficient  to  com- 
pensate them  for  all  they  do.  Kothing  so  expands 
the  hearts  of  Christians  as  Christ-like  effort  to 
save  others.  The  more  enlarged  and  earnest  the 
plans  of  any  church  to  save  men,  the  greater  will 
be  its  prosperity.  In  proportion  as  any  church 
withholds  its  sympathy  from  the  world  -  wide 
work  of  Christian  missions,  will  it  wither  and 
lose  its  vitality. 

"  The  churches  need  a  stronger  faith.  They 
should  look  less  at  the  difficulties,  and  more  at 
the  wants  of  the  heathen  and  the  promises  of 
Ood.  A  common  degree  of  faith  is  not  enough. 
There  are  superhuman  difficulties  to  surmount. 
We  must  rise  up  and  send  out  men  full  of  faith 
and  of  the  Holy  Gliost.  They  must  have  confi- 
dence in  the  truth  and  in  the  God  of  missions. 
It  is  God's  work;  and  he  is  pledged  to  open  up 
the  way  and  bless  the  labors  of  his  true  servants. 


170  LIFE   OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

And  if  miraculous  power  is  needed  at  any  time 
to  give  access  to  the  minds  of  the  people,  and  if 
it  is  sought  in  faith,  who  will  dare  say  it  will  not 
be  granted?  We  must  not  follow  too  closely  in 
the  steps  of  others  who  may  have  been  governed 
merely  by  human  w^isdom.  There  is  yet  power 
in  the  arm  of  God;  there  is  yet  power  in  the 
pure,  simple  gospel  of  Christ,  if  presented  as  in 
primitive  times,  to  save  even  the  most  degraded 
heathens  of  this  age.  Let  then  the  whole  Church 
engage  in  this  glorious  cause  w^ith  renewed  faith, 
and  an  unyielding  purpose  to  obey  the  command 
of  Christ,  to  preach  the  gospel  to  every  human 
being,  and  'a  little  one  shall  soon  become  a  thou- 
sand, and  a  small  one  a  strong  nation.'  The 
Lord  will  hasten  it  in  his  time." 

Some  thought  that  the  only  hope  of  Africa  was 
through  the  children.  Bishop  Edwards  said, 
"  We  must  rely  upon  the  word  of  God.  The 
darker  the  picture,  the  stronger  must  be  our 
faith."  lie  also  said  that  the  report  made  "  dwelt 
too  much  upon  the  gloomy  future,"  and  that 
"  unbelief  needs  no  aid."  The  Board  appointed 
two  new  missionaries  to  Africa. 

The  report  of  the  corresponding  secretary,  at 
the  subsequent  meetings  of  the  Board,  showed 
great  progress  in  mission  -  work.  Rev.  J.  C. 
Bright,  the  corresponding  secretary,  was  the  very 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  171 

embodiment  of  the  missionary  spirit.  He  was 
tlie  soul  of  persuasion  whenever  the  missionary 
theme  was  his  topic.  One  of  the  troubles  of  the 
Board,  in  all  these  sessions,  seemed  to  be  to  keep 
the  Executive  Committee  and  the  indomitable 
missionary  secretary  from  doing  too  much;  or 
gather  from  putting  more  missionaries  in  the  field 
than  could  be  supported. 

Not  many  incidents  are  preserved  from  the  four 
years  embraced  in  Bishop  Edwards'  second  term. 
A  few,  however,  may  be  given . 

Mr.  John  Dodds  had  heard  him  say,  incident- 
ally, that  if  he  had  money  enough  he  would 
give  his  house  a  second  story.  So  when  the 
bishop  went  np  to  his  office  Mr.  Dodds  slipped 
down  to  his  house,  laid  his  plans  before  Mrs.  Ed- 
wards, made  measurements,  and  found  out  when 
the  bishop  was  going  to  start  away  to  his  confer- 
ences. As  soon  as  he  w^as  gone  Mr.  Dodds  was 
on  hand  with  carpenters,  lumber,  and  whatever 
was  necessary  in  order  to  give  the  bishop's  house 
the  desired  lift.  Plastering,  painting,  and  every- 
thing belonging  to  a  complete  job  was  done 
before  the  bishop's  return.  The  effort  was  a 
complete  success.  When  he  came  home  it  wat^ 
very  amusing  to  see  him  halt,  look  up  at  the 
house,  look  at  the  yard,  and  at  adjoiniug  houses, 
feeling  that  he  was  mistaken  in  the  phiec.     This 


172  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

act  of  brotherly  kindness  was  highly  appreciated 
by  the  bishop  and  his  family. 

One  Sabbath  morning  Bishop  Edwards  filled 
an  appointment  at  the  First  Church,  in  Dayton, 
Brother  L.,  who  was  to  preach  somewhat  later 
the  same  morning  at  the  Third  Church,  and 
whose  week  had  been  full  of  work,  thought  he 
would  drop  in  for  a  little  while  and  get  a  thought 
or  some  inspiration  from  the  bishop.  He  was 
pleased  with  the  naturalness  and  suggestiveness 
of  the  speaker's  thought  and  treatment;  and  tak- 
ing the  start  which  he  had  received,  he  went  to 
his  appointment  and  used  the  same  subject.  At 
night  both  preachers  were  present  at  the  Third 
Church.  The  bishop  opened  the  Bible  to  give 
out  his  text,  and  Brother  L.  judged  from  the  way 
the  Bible  lay  open  that  he  was  going  to  repeat 
the  sermon  he  had  preached  at  the  other  church 
in  the  morning.  In  order  to  prevent  this  he 
slipped  a  paper  before  the  bishop,  requesting  him 
not  to  preach  the  same  sermon,  as  he  had  preach- 
ed it  there  in  the  morning  himself. 

The  General  Conference  of  1853  had  placed  the 
salary  of  married  bishops  and  traveling  preach- 
ers at  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  besides  cer- 
tain contingencies.  If  a  bishop  received  more 
than  the  specified  amount,  the  excess  was  to  go 
for  other   purposes.     But  as  Mr.  Edwards   was 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  173 

editor  as  well  as  bishop,  the  receipts  from  his  dis- 
trict were  to  be  turned  toward  paying  the  salary 
that  should  be  fixed  by  the  printing-house  Board. 
After  some  time  had  elapsed  he  found  that  his 
expenses  were  over  five  hundred  dollars  per  year, 
and  thus  much  beyond  what  the  publishing 
Board  expected  to  pay.  The  bishop  said  he 
could  not  live  on  less.  Mrs.  Edwards  had  been 
working  in  the  Telescope  ofiice,  had  been  tak- 
ing in  sewing,  and  helping  in  various  ways. 
Some  members  of  the  Board  said  there  must  be 
a  leak  somewhere.  But  after  one  of  their  num- 
ber had  examined  the  account  of  expenses  kept 
by  Mrs.  Edwards  he  said,  "I  do  not  find  any 
particular  extravagance,  —  considerable  muslin 
though."  This,  of  course,  was  very  annoying  to 
the  bishop  and  his  family.  Most  preachers  and 
their  families  would  have  a  like  aversion  to  pro- 
ducing their  account  of  expenses;  but  a  similar 
examination  would  generally  turn  out  to  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  preacher.  How  many  privations, 
home  denials,  and  attempts  to  hide  the  com- 
monest wants  would  be  thus  disclosed. 

In  1855  Bishop  Edwards  published  an  edition 
of  Fletcher's  Appeal,  with  an  introduction  from 
his  own  pen.  Many  copies  were  sold.  He  much 
admired  the  writings  of  Fletcher;  and  this  itself 
is  an  evidence  of  his  own  clear  logic  and  thor- 
oughly orthodox  views. 


174  LIFE   OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

The  four  years  closing  with  1857  had  heen  a 
season  of  great  prosperity  to  the  Church.  At  the 
close  of  this  period  the  entire  membership  of  the 
Church  was  sixty-one  thousand  three  hundred 
and  ninety-nine.  This  is  the  iirst  report  of  num- 
bers that  can  be  relied  upon  with  much  confi- 
dence respecting  the  membership  of  the  Church. 
The  bishop's  report  contained  the  following:  "We 
rejoice  in  the  belief  that  the  Church  at  this  time 
is  more  prosperous,  and  its  operations  more  effi- 
cient in  doing  good,  than  at  any  former  period 
in  its  history.  The  past  four  years,  taken  as  a 
whole,  must  be  regarded  as  a  season  of  great 
prosperity  to  our  Zion.  The  object  for  which 
our  fathers,  under  God,  founded  the  Church, — 
namely,  the  extension  of  the  Redeemer's  king- 
dom in  the  salvation  of  souls, — is  the  all-absorb- 
ing theme  among  our  ministers  and  people." 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

Twelfth  General  Conference — Re-elected  Bishop — Diary — 
Incidents. 

HE  twelfth  General  Conference  met  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  May  12,  1857.  Some 
very  important  questions  came  before  the 
conference.  After  quite  an  exciting  discus- 
sion it  was  decided  that  there  should  be  the 
same  liberty  of  conscience  as  to  the  subjects  of 
baptism  that  there  had  been  from  the  first  as  to 
the  mode.  Lay  delegation  was  already  exciting 
some  attention.  The  sentiment  of  the  confer- 
ence was  perhaps  fully  expressed  in  the  remark 
of  Bishop  Edwards, — "  The  desire  for  lay  delega- 
tion is  not  great.  None  of  us  would  oppose  it  if 
the  brethren  want  it." 

The  great  subject,  however,  was  the  depravity 
question.  The  action  of  the  General  Conference 
of  1853  had  not  proved  very  satisfactory.  But  at 
the  present  General  Conference  unexpected  and 
almost   unprecedented   agreement   and  harmony 

were  brought  about.     In  the  unselfish  and  glow- 

175 


176  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

ing  devotion  of  early  Christianit}-,  and  possibly 
here  and  there  in  more  recent  times,  there  have 
been  similar  examples  of  the  triumph  of  order  over 
the  spirit  of  discord.  But  it  must  be  confessed 
that  such  instances  have  been  rare.  The  basis  of 
this  agreement  was  the  adoption  of  the  following 
question,  to  be  answered  by  candidates  for  the 
ministry:  "Do  you  believe  that  man,  abstract  of 
the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  is  fallen  from 
original  righteousness,  and  is  not  only  entirely 
destitute  of  holiness,  but  inclined  to  evil,  and 
only  evil,  and  that  continually?"  One  member 
did  not  believe  the  language  to  be  pertinent,  as 
no  man  destitute  of  the  grace  of  God  could  be 
found.  Yet  the  language  was  true  and  well  con- 
sidered, regarding,  as  it  did,  man  as  he  is  in  him- 
self. After  the  vote  was  taken — fifty-seven  affirm- 
ative to  one  negative — the  entire  conference  arose 
and  sung,  "Praise  God  from  whom  all  bless- 
ings flow."  A  great  crisis  was  passed,  and  the 
happy  issue  of  the  long  controversy  produced 
a  charitable  and  hopeful  spirit  in  the  Church  re- 
specting other  points  of  difference.  "While 
Bishop  Edwards  was  a  strong  believer  in  the 
doctrine  of  total  depravity,  the  language  agreed 
upon  fully  coincided  with  his  views.  The  Gen- 
eral Conference  provided  for  the  formation  of 
seven    new   conferences;    namely,    Parkersburg, 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWAKDS.  177 

Minnesota,  "Wisconsin,  Lower  "Wabash,  Canada, 
Kentucky,  and  Nebraska.  The  last  named  was 
organized  in  1859.  Bishop  Edwards  was  again 
elected  a  member  of  the  missionary  Board  and  a 
trustee  of  the  printing  house.  He  was  also  chosen 
bishop  for  the  third  term.  His  associates  were  J. 
J.  Glossbrenner  and  L.  Davis,  with  J.  linssel  as 
German  bishop.  He  was  again  assigned  to  the 
Southwestern  District,  consisting  of  White  River, 
"Wabash,  Miami,  Auglaize,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Kan- 
sas, Kentucky,  and  Missouri  conferences. 

The  year  1857  marks  an  important  era  in  the 
life  and  labors  of  Bishop  Edwards.  His  sympa- 
thies and  qualifications  had  been  brought  out  in 
relation  to  the  difierent  interests  and  demands  of 
the  Church.  His  natural  administrative  abilities 
had  become  disciplined  and  strengthened.  His 
rich  spiritual  gifts  had  become  more  and  more  an 
available  pulpit  force.  His  self-command,  per- 
sonal influence  over  the  minds  of  others,  and 
ability  to  turn  circumstances  and  occasions  to  ac- 
count, eminently  fitted  him  for  the  position  of  a 
Christian  bishop.  Henceforth  he  was  to  give  his 
time  and  talents,  without  diversion  of  any  kind, 
to  the  responsible  office  of  a  superintendent  in 
the  Church. 

During  the  entire  term,  he  continued  to  reside 
in  Dayton.     "Whenever  he  was  not  away  from 


178  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

home  on  his  district,  he  accepted  whatever  local 
work  presented  itself  to  him.  He  preached  fre- 
quently and  at  many  places  within  the  bounds  of 
Miami  Conference.  The  General  Conference  of, 
1857  fixed  the  salary  of  a  married  bishop  or 
traveling  preacher  at  three  hundred  dollars,  to- 
gether with  certain  additions  for  contingencies. 
The  object  of  the  General  Conference  in  naming 
a  salary  was  to  secure  the  best  results  in  the  sup- 
port of  the  ministry  in  general,  and  the  greatest 
contentment  and  efficiency  of  the  itinerants;  and 
no  one  can  say  that  the  best  that  could  be  done 
at  the  time  was  not  done. 

Bishop  Edwards  attended  all  his  conferences 
the  first  year  except  Missouri  and  Kentucky. 
Missouri  Conference  was  directed  to  meet  with 
Kansas,  and  Kentucky  with  Indiana.  The  second 
year  he  met  all  his  conferences  except  Ken- 
tucky, being  detained  from  this  conference  on 
account  of  sickness.  Ex-Bishop  Kumler  attended 
the  conference  in  his  place.  In  the  fall  of  this 
year,  by  the  direction  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  the  missionary  Board,  he  organized 
Nebraska  Conference,  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Northwest  District. 

The  two  following  years  he  presided  at  all  his 
conferences.  By  the  division  of  Wabash  Con- 
ference, in  1858,  the  district  was  made  to  consist 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  179 

of  ten  conferences.  In  attending  these  confer- 
ences and  meeting  the  missionary  Board,  in  jour- 
neys in  the  interest  of  the  printing  house,  in 
special  visits  to  his  own  and  to  other  districts,  he 
made  one  trip  to  Virginia,  two  to  Pennsylvania, 
five  to  Kansas,  one  to  Nebraska,  two  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  many  others  to  nearer  places.  Ten 
years  before,  such  trips  would  have  been  impos- 
sible. The  trip  to  Iowa,  from  his  home  in  Ohio, 
in  1849,  was  a  great  undertaking.  But  railroads 
and  steamboats  were  bringing  the  extreme  limits 
of  the  country  much  nearer  together. 

Bishop  Edwards  wrote  scarcely  anything  dur- 
ing the  entire  term,  except  what  arose  out  of 
pressing  occasions  and  the  practical  demands  of 
church-work;  but  his  mind  was  all  the  more 
intensely  engaged  upon  the  various  church-inter- 
ests, in  planning,  stimulating,  and  repelling  open 
and  secret  foes, — in  a  word,  in  endeavoring  to 
care  for  the  Church  as  one  that  must  give  an 
account.  He  had  great  faith  in  planning  new 
work,  and  had  such  thorough  and  accurate 
knowledge  as  to  men  and  measures,  and  such 
evident  caution,  as  to  inspire  confidence  and  pre- 
vent calamity. 

But  his  journal  must  be  relied  on  for  giving 
the  truest  and  fullest  idea  of  his  spirit  and  ac- 
tivities.    Let  him  paint  his  own  picture — outline, 


180  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

dimensions,  coloring,  burden  of  work,  life,  faults, 
and  all.  It  is  not  necessary  that  frequent  com- 
ments be  made  along  -with  the  particular  selec- 
tions that  are  given  from  the  journal.  'No 
selection  is  made  unless  it  is  understood  to  pre- 
sent some  characteristic  feature  or  helpful  illus- 
tration of  his  life  and  labors.  The  nature  and 
value  of  these  entries  will  generally  be  obvious. 
The  following  selections  begin  with  1858: 

January  1.  Spent  the  day  in  Decatur,  Illinois,  in  relig- 
ious visiting.  Preached  at  night  from  the  sacrifice  and  the 
altar.  Good  liberty.  Sermon  too  long,  but  two  were  con- 
verted. Feel  that  I  am  all  on  the  altar,  and  that  God  ac- 
cepts the  poor  sacrifice. 

January  2.  Traveled  fifty  miles  to  Honey  Creek,  to  a 
dedication.  Walked  three  miles.  Dined  and  prayed  with  a 
Lutheran  family.  Preached  at  night.  Not  very  clear. 
Felt  empty  afterward.     Lord,  baptize  me  anew. 

January  3.  The  Lord  gave  me  unusual  liberty  in  preach- 
ing from  a  new  text.  Afterward  felt  too  much  selfish  satis- 
faction.    Lord,  forgive  me. 

How  often  ministers  take  to  themselves  credit 
for  what  God  has  done  for  them,  notwithstanding 
their  promises  not  to  do  so;  and  how  few  of  them 
afterward  ask  forgiveness, — at  least  before  they 
want  some  more  help. 

January  7.  A  beautiful  winter  day.  Feel  an  unusuaJ 
longing  for  the  Holy  Spirit.  Visited  several  families.  Tried 
to  preach  at  night,  with  but  poor  success  Oh,  where  is  oui 
faith?    Four  mourners. 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  181 

January  11.  Went  to  Lexington.  Quarterly  meeting  on 
hand.  Tried  to  preach  at  night.  Oh,  what  a  poor  preacher. 
Tongue  thick  as  a  board.  It  may  be  the  Lord  can  bring 
good  out  of  it;  but  I  can  not  see  how. 

January  20.  Arose  with  a  feeling  of  gratitude  to  God  for 
his  great  goodness  to  me.  Good  health,  peace  of  mind,  and 
as^delightful  a  morning  as  ever  I  saw.  Tried  to  preach  at 
night.  Another  of  those  very  dark  times;  and  yet  I  feel  a 
very  great  desire  to  be  useful.  Oh,  why  this  lack  of  power  I 
Lord,  help. 

January  21.  Another  beautiful  day.  Lord,  let  the  sun 
fihine  into  this  dark  soul.  Oh,  for  power.  This  may  be  a 
selfish  thought.  Oh,  for  nothingness,  that  Christ  may  reveal 
his  power.     I  must  decrease. 

January  24.  Preached  a  dedicatory  sermon  with  much 
liberty.  Guess  I  offended  some  pro-slavery  persons.  Collec- 
tion materially  affected. 

January  29.  Arrived  at  home  at  twelve  to-day.  All  alive 
and  well.  Aurelia  had  been  sick,  but  God  mercifully  re- 
stored her.  Heard  that  three  prominent  brethren  had  join- 
ed the  Masons.  Oh,  what  a  shock  to  confidence.  Lord, 
what  is  man? 

February  4.  Try  to  have  victory,  but  mind  somewhat  har- 
rassed  with  little,  petty  jars.  Why  is  it  that  my  religion 
fails  at  home  sooner  than  elsewhere?  My  family  are  kind  to 
oie ;  but  someway  I  am  stirred  by  very  small  things,  so  as  to 
•lose  the  love  I  ought  to  exhibit  before  the  children.  Lord, 
help  me. 

February  14.  At  Piqua,  Ohio.  The  morning  meeting  en- 
couraging. Preacheil  at  eleven  to  about  twenty;  at  night 
to  about  thirty.  This  seemed  like  doing  but  little;  but  we 
must  be  humble. 

March  16.     Dayton.     Was  tempted  by  a  little,  low  criti- 


V 


182  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

cism  on  my  sermons  by  a  brother.  Fear  his  motives;  but 
I  will  try  to  profit. 

March  17.  Have  victory  over  the  temptation  of  yester- 
day. Have  not  uttered  a  word  to  any  one  on  the  subject, 
nor  have  1  heard  the  matter  alluded  to.  Will  pray  for  the 
tempter. 

April  18.  Rain,  rain,  rain.  In  bed,  No  one  went  to  my 
appointment  in  consequence  of  the  rain.  Mind  at  rest.  A 
little  affliction  is  good  for  the  soul. 

April  26.  Yesterday  attended  five  meetings.  Felt  vio 
tory,  but  this  evening  had  to  punish  two  of  the  girls  for  dis- 
obedience and  laughing  at  me.  Perhaps  was  too  severe 
though  did  not  feel  much  anger.  Lord,  teach  meekness  and 
wisdom  in  government.  Feel  like  starting  anew  in  industry 
and  religion.  Too  cold  to  study  in  ray  room  without  fire — 
another  drawback.  This  life  is  full  of  drawbacks.  Oh,  for 
grace. 

'  May  17.  This  day  visited  the  grave  of  my  dear  father, 
who  died  September  15,  1825,  aged  forty-nine  years.  Useful 
reflections  crowd  upon  me  ao  with  one  foot  resting  upon  hi* 
sinking  tombstone  I  make  this  record.  Lord,  prepare  us  all 
to  meet  him  in  glory,  where,  I  trust,  he  has  been  for  nearly 
thirty-three  years. 

May  20.  Peace  of  mind  and  a  season  of  communion  with 
God  in  secret  prayer.  Covenanted  to  commune  more  thua 
in  future.  Oh,  that  the  covenant  may  not  be  broken. 
Preached  at  night.     Too  long,  and  not  very  successful. 

May  22.  This  evening  Brother  Flinchbaugh  preached. 
Good,  warm;  a  little  funny,  thougli  he  was  serious.  These 
old  German  brethren  preach  the  plain  truth  with  feeling 
hearts.     God  bless  them. 

^  June  5.  This  is  one  of  the  darkest  days  of  my  life.  Every- 
thing seems  to  go  wrong.     Missed  the  train.  No   freight;  no 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  18S 

"^telegraph.  Nobody  at  last  to  meet  me  at  the  depot.  Failed 
to  take  the  bus.  Muddy,  rain,  dark.  Made  another  mis- 
take in  seeking  lodgings. 

June  6.  Feel  determined  to  get  to  my  appointment,  but 
misfortunes  continue.  Hired  a  buggy.  It  gave  out.  Rained 
aril  night.  Mud  and  water.  Oh!  Preached  at  eleven  and 
four.  Good  impression,  I  think.  Glad  I  pressed  through 
difficulties  and  came. 

June  8.  Spent  this  day  in  visiting  in  the  country.  Walked 
six  miles  and  eat  strawberries,  etc.  Felt  condemned  and 
empty  for  neglecting  to  pray  with  the  family.  Think  I  will 
__apt  spend  another  such  day,  the  Lord  helping. 

June  10.  This  day  agreed  to  be  one  of  a  company  to  pub- 
lish Bernard's  Light  on  Masonry.  Lord,  if  it  is  thy  will 
give  it  success. 

The  publication  of  the  work  spoken  of  here 
proved  to  be  very  successful,  many  copies  being 
sold  and  much  light  sjiread  abroad  respecting  the 
dark  orders.  The  bishop  lived  to  see  his  prayer 
for  its  success  answered.  As  a  business  venture 
it  paid  quite  well,  and  still  yields  a  fair  profit.  He 
revised  the  entire  work,  chiefly  in  the  way  of 
leaving  out  needless  matter.  He  also  wrote  an 
mtroduction. 

July  8.     This  day    took     tea   with    Brother    and    Sister 
I    dowers.     Felt  that  the  conversation  and  our  devotions  were 
profitable.     It  mii;ht  be  profitable  to  visit  mdre  in  the  right 
^spirit. 

July  12.  Our  most  excellent  visit  wiih  our  northern 
friends  soon  to  close.  Tiiink  it  has  been  a  benefit  to  me.  I 
ought   to  associate  much    with    persons  of   an    affectionate 


184  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

nature.  It  softens  and  smooths  my  rough  heart.  Oh,  for 
love. 

Juhj  18.  Tried  to  preach  this  afternoon  at  Crabb'a  School- 
house.  Poor  liberty.  Think  I  undertook  too  much.  Some 
cause  of  failure.     Oh,  when  shall  I  ever  become  a  preacher  I 

July  25.  Able  to  preach  some  at  ten  and  a  half  o'clock. 
Some  liberty.  Felt  a  peculiar  desire  to  get  nearer  to  God 
and  to  be  baptized  anew  for  my  work.  Lord,  help,  that  I 
may  go  to  the  conferences  in  the  fullness  of  the  blessing. 

August  12.  White  River  Conference  commenced  at  eight 
o'clock.  A  pleasant,  calm  time  in  the  conference  prayer- 
meeting.  God  was  with  us  through  the  day.  Prospects  in 
money  matters  poor  enough.     We  will  trust  God. 

August  13.  Conference  progresses  slowly  but  surely. 
Tried  to  preach  at  night.  Too  lifeless.  Why  is  it  that  we 
can  preach  sincerely  the  theory  of  spiritual  power  and  yet 
feel  so  little  of  it? 

August  14.  At  this  conference  two  members  seemed  to 
equivocate  on  answering  the  question,  "Have  you  connection 
with  any  secret  society,"  and  thus  threw  a  suspicion  over  my 
mind  which  it  will  take  time  to  remove. 

Sunday,  August  15.  A  good  day.  God  helped  me  to 
preach. 

August  18.  Came  to  Goshen,  where  the  Wabash  Confer- 
ence is  to  be  held.  Heard  a  kind  of  a  discourse  from  an  old 
preacher,  with  whom  I  was  acquainted  twenty-two  years 
ago.  Such  preaching.  Oh,  oh !  Perhaps  I  lack  charity. 
God  forgive. 

August  19.  Passed  through  the  day  with  a  peaceful  frame 
of  mind.  Would  in  other  years  have  been  tempted  at  some 
things,  but  was  kept  in  peace.     Bless  the  Lord  for  victory. 

August  20.  God  was  wiih  us  in  the  conference  business  to 
keep  our  spirits  in  peace.  Bless  liis  name.  I  yet  believe  he 
will  grant  me  more  love  and  meekness. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  185 

Sunday,  August  21.  PreJiched  on  the  camp-ground  from 
Judaa.  A  friend  afterward  sent  me  a  dollar  because  of  the 
sermon.  I  hardly  know  what  he  saw  in  it.  Brother  H. 
preached  at  four.  Guess  he  was  in  the  fog  some.  But  he  i3 
a  good  clever  man,  and  will  improve. 

August  27.  Auglaize  Conference.  This  morning  feel 
solemn;  not  talkative.  Drawn  out  in  prayer.  Lord,  be  with 
us  in  the  conference.     A  good  commencement. 

August  28.  This  conference  took  very  firm  ground  on  se- 
crecy. Erased  the  name  of  T.  J.  D.  with  some  scorching 
resolutions.     Business  is  progressing  rapidly. 

August  29.  Very  cold  for  this  time  of  year.  Mind  clear 
and  calm.  Oh,  that  flames  of  love  may  kindle  'in  my  soul. 
Am  to  dedicate  a  poor  church.  The  Lord  help,  that  T  and 
the  people  may  be  dedicated.  The  Lord  helped  this  fore- 
noon while  I  was  preaching  from  "Holiness  becometh  God'a 
house." 

August  30.  Business  goes  on  finely.  Appointments  read. 
Guess  all  will  go  off  right.  Conference  closed  at  twelve  at 
night  in  a  gust  of  good  feeling.     All  felt  first-rate. 

September  6.  Miami  Conference  closed  about  ten  this 
evening.  Decidedly  the  best  Miami  Conference  I  have  at- 
tended. The  itinerants  right — no  reserve.  No  local  men 
employed.  May  the  Lord  make  this  the  best  year  we  have 
ever  had. 

September  14.     Felt  somewhat  sad  at  the  thought  of  leav- 
ing home  for  so  long  a  time,  especially  on  my  family's  ac- 
count.    Parted  with   them  at  six  o'clock,  and   committed  . 
them,  the  hou?e,  and  myself  to  God.     O  Lord,  keep  us. 

September  18.  Indiana  Conference  convened  to-day.  Our 
trust  is  in  God  for  a  good,  profitable  session.  Oh,  if  I  were 
only  as  holy  and  zealous  for  God  as  I  ought  to  be,  I  might  do 
something  toward  stimulating  others  to  love  and  eood  works. 


186  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

All  goes  on  finely.  Tiie  best  statistical  reports  I  ever  saw. 
The  stationing  committee  did  its  work  in  one  hour.  God 
helps. 

Sunday,  Seftember  25.  Preached  at  ten  and  a  half  o'clock. 
Tolerable  liberty.     God  grant  that  it  may  do  good. 

October  8.  Finished  reading  Summerfield's  life.  What  a 
sweet-spirited,  saintly  man.  His  life  was  short,  but  devoted. 
He  died  at  twenty-seven,  having  preached  seven  years.  He 
had  natural  gifts;  but  his  great  strength  lay  in  his  nearness 
to  God,  his  child-like  humility,  and  tenderness  of  heart. 

October  9.  Kansas  Conference  began  yesterday.  Had  a 
plain,  private  conversation  with  brethren  who  felt  edgewise 
t»ward  each  other.     Oh,  for  love  among  brethren. 

October  14.  Arrived  at  Fannie's.  Had  a  welcome  recep- 
tion. Since  a  little  love  does  me  so  much  good,  I  ought  to 
learn  to  love  others;  or  rather  I  ought  to  manifest  for  their 
Bakes  what  little  afiection  1  have. 

Fannie  was  a  girl  who  had  been  received  into 
the  bishop's  family,  and  who  had  married  and 
gone  west. 

October  18.  Leavenworth.  Am  doing  nothing  for  the 
Lord.  What  a  very  poor  worm  of  a  man  I  am!  Had  a 
profitable  season  at  dusk,  while  praying  for  all  the  confer- 
ences in  my  district,  by  name;  also,  my  wile  and  ciiildreu 
and  other  friends. 

October  20.  Riding  in  a  full  stage.  Two  or  three  very 
profane  men.  Shall  I  reprove  them?  Will  wait  till  I  get  a 
good  opportunity.  How  very  wicked  the  people  in  the  West 
are  becoming.  Perhaps  setting  tiie  lieart  on  worldly  specu- 
lation opens  it  to  ail  oilier  bad  influences. 

October  23.  In  Nebraska.  Am  to  liold  a  conference,  and 
only  one  member  in  it.  Am  to  examine  and  license  several, 
or  reject  them. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  187 

November  24.  Am  on  board  the  "Ben  Campbell,"  for  Rock 
Island.  Had  a  remarkable  answer  to  prayer  this  morning. 
Who  pver  trusted  God  and  failed  ? 

December  26.  Came  home.  All  well.  Too  much  com- 
plaining of  the  preacher,  which  caused  me  to  administer 
too  hard  a  rebuke.  God  forgive  me.  I  must  have  more 
patience.     Can  there  not  be  mercy  and  grace  for  me? 

December  31.  Went  to  Arlington,  to  assist  Brother  Norris. 
No  meeting.  Word  sent  for  night.  Preached  from  "  Cities 
of  Refuge."  Not  much  power.  Too  much  trust  in  man. 
Felt  this  as  soon  as  I  learned  how  my  coming  was  received. 

Who  will  undertake  to  estimate  the  breadth, 
extent,  various  and  conscious  fullness  of  the 
heart-history  of  even  one  of  these  years?  "Was 
ever  aspiration  higher,  or  struggle  so  persistent, 
or  so  often  renewed?  We  expect  to  hear  him 
compare  himself  with  men.  This  is  human  and 
common.  But  Christ  is  ever  the  standard  by 
which  he  judges  himself.  The  purity  of  Jesus 
may  condemn  his  defects  and  short-comings,  but 
it  is  still  the  flaming  beacon  to  lead  him  on,  and 
the  sure  prophecy  of  a  like  purity  for  himself. 

January  1,  1859.  Feel  the  need  of  spending  the  coming 
year  more  entirely  for  God  than  I  have  the  past.  Think 
that  I  shall  be  enabled  to  do  more  for  tlie  cause  of  holiness. 
Lord,  help  me. 

January  7.  Have  started  on  a  preacliing  tour.  Some 
faith  and  peace.  Preached  at  night.  The  Lord  helped,  and 
tlie  word  seemed  to  take  hold  of  the  people. 

January  10.     Tried  to  preach  on  consecration,  but  failed 


188  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

from  some  cause  unknown  to  me.  No  power,  and  but  little 
light. 

January  17.  Visited  twenty-one  families.  Prospects  en- 
couraging. Lord,  pour  out  tliy  Spirit.  Preached  at  night. 
Three  mourners.  Quite  a  number  convicted.  Much  feel- 
ing. 

January  20.  Felt  an  unusual  solemnity,  so  that  I  could 
hardly  preach.  Ten  mourners.  One  conversion.  Prospect 
glorious. 

March  1.  Not  much  faith  of  a  revival  in  D.  Fear  the 
motive  of  those  who  desire  it  is  not  such  as  God  can  bless. 
Gained  a  little  help  in  secret  prayer,  and  a  little  more  while 
talking  to  the  people  on  "dry  bones." 

March  9.  Serious  temptation  about  hoops.  I  hate  them. 
Believe  the  Lord  hates  them.  But  I  ought  not  to  sin  in  my 
opposing.  Fear  I  did.  Oh,  for  meekness.  Preached  at 
night,  with  more  liberty  than  I  expected.     Good  feeling. 

March  10.  Left  home  on  a  long  tour.  Preached  at  Center 
Point, — long,  hard,  and  loud.  Too  empty.  Too  little  effected, 
I  fear.  Curiosity  to  hear  a  strange  preacher  had  something 
to  do  with  it. 

March  13.  Beautiful  Sabbath  morning;  but  how  and  what 
shall  I  preach?  God  helped  in  the  morning  while  encour- 
aging the  brethren  in  the  race  for  eternal  life.  But  at  nightl 
Oh  !     Oh !     Choked  up.     Hoarse.     No  power. 

March  16.  Finished  tlie  book  of  Neheniiah,  Am  reading 
and  marking  for  use  a  small  book  of  anec(iotes.  Read  book 
of  Esther  through.  A  very  interesting  story.  Exemplifies 
the  power  of  prayer  and  fasting. 

March  17.  Lower  Wabash.  Oli,  for  grace  to  go  tiirough 
this  conference  in  a  riirht  spirit.  Reading  Job.  Am  pecul- 
iarly struck  with  his  excessive  grief.  How  forcibly  he  tells 
his  sorrows.  Spoke  once  to-day  too  harshly.  Oh,  when  sliaU 
I  get  victory  over  this  evil. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  189 

March  18.  A  rather  pleasant  season  to-day;  but  I  still 
feel  the  remains  of  selfishness.  Too  much  concerned  for  my 
ofBcial  reputation.     God  help. 

Sunday,  March  20.  Felt  empty  and  messageless  this  morn- 
ing; but  faitli  claimed  the  promise,  and  God  came  to  my  help 
while  presenting  the  missionary  interest.  Nearly  three  hun- 
dred dollars  raised.  A  powerful. prayer-meeting  in  the  after- 
noon, 

March  28.  Sent  for  to  preach  the  funeral  of  a  merchant's 
wife,  who,  I  fear,  died  without  hope.  Oli,  what  a  task.  But 
little  good,  I  fear,  is  effected  by  such  funerals.  At  night 
preached  at  same  place.     Rain  and  dark.     Oh!     Oh! 

July  25.  Packing  up  for  another  long  campaign.  Feel 
some  anxiety  about  a  preparation  for  usefulness.  Oh,  for 
the  Spirit.  Left  only  twenty  dollars  with  wife,  and  had  but 
twelve  dollars  for  myself.  Left  all  in  God's  care.  Have  very 
little  earthly  trust  of  any  kind.  But  it  is  better  to  trust  in 
the  Lord  than  to  put  confidence  in  man. 

August  4.  Preached  from  Psalms  cxviii.  27.  Too  long. 
Think  I  must  give  up  this  text.     Hard  work  to  preach, 

August  12.  Kansas  Conference  commenced.  Six  mem- 
bers. All  present.  Preached  from  II.  Corinthians  viii,  9. 
Many  tears  shed.     Suppose  the  subject  applicable. 

August  17.  Came  to  the  place  of  the  White  River  Con- 
ference. Met  the  brethren  in  an  unusually  pleasant  mood. 
Feel  love  toward  them  more  than  common. 

August  18,  Tried  to  preach  at  night  on  the  promises,  God 
was  present,  and  I  and  others  felt  happy.  Think  good  waa 
done.    But  it  was  God  who  did  it,  and  not  man, 

September  1.  In  this,  the  Auglaize  Conference,  what  a 
want  of  a  true  devotional  spirit.  Many  are  seemingly  sub- 
stituting theory  for  religion.  Oh,  how  slowly  business  pro* 
gresses.    So  much  talk. 


190  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

September  6.  Answered  perhaps  too  sharply  a  sister  who 
was  complaining  of  conference.  I  record  it  here  to  mortify 
the  old  man. 

September  18.  Preached  a  conference  sermon  in  the  fore- 
noon, and  at  night  a  missionary  sermon,  on  the  "  Cheerful 
giver."  A  little  too  much  lightness  in  gesture  and  expres- 
Bion.     God  forgive. 

October  22.  This  morning  feel  a  thankful  and  devotional 
spirit.  Am  better  in  health  than  weeks  before.  Arrived  at 
the  Sandusky  Conference  as  a  visitor.  Oh,  how  excited  I 
was  to  meet  so  many  old  and  tried  friends. 

October  23.  Tried  to  preach  a  missionary  sermon.  Oh, 
what  a  poor  preacher.     Felt  much  mortified  afterward. 

Sunday,  October  30.  Scioto  Conference.  Tried  to  preach 
at  ten  from  "  Open  wide  thy  mouth."  Some  feeling  and 
loud  responses.  At  three  o'clock  warm,  old-fashioned  speak- 
ing-meeting. 

The  loud  responses  referred  to  were  such  that 
the  bishop  had  to  wait  for  quiet  to  be  restored. 
A  chief  point  in  the  sermon  was  in  reference  to 
divine  interpositions.  "While  the  bishop  was  de- 
scribing the  ascent  of  Elijah  in  one  of  the  Lord's 
beautiful  chariots,  Brother  Joshua  Montgomery 
was  especially  demonstrative  in  crying  "glory." 
The  bishop  turning  to  him  said,  "Don't  go  ud, 
yet  Joshua;  we  can't  well  spare  you."  ^"^^ 

November  30.  My  own  inside  state  not  the  sweetest.  Can 
hardly  tell  the  reason.  But  one  thing  is  clear;  I  am  not 
enough  like  Jesus.     Oh,  for  a  fullness  of  love. 

December  16.     Brother  D.  preached  rather  a  harsh  kind  of 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  191 

a  sermon.  Oh,  how  much  old-country  people  need  love.  It 
is  my  great  lack. 

January  18,  1860.  Started  for  Pennsylvania.  Stopped 
over  night  at  the  house  of  a  very  dear  friend — a  visit  which 
will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  Such  exhibitions  of  affection  I 
am  not  used  to.  How  strangely  this  one  has  affected  me. 
Lord,  make  it  profitable. 

February  7.  Arrived  home  at  noon.  All  well.  Thank 
the  Lord.  Spent  the  afternoon — hardly  know  how.  Was 
waked  at  ten  o'clock  by  Lecta's  running  in  and  crying  out, 
*' Father,  you  have  another  happy  daughter."  Converted  I 
Thank  the  Lord  for  it. 

February  II.  Preached.  Missed  my  main  thought;  or 
rather  had  no  power  to  amplify  or  impress  it.  Oh,  what  a 
poor  preacher! 

March  9.  Find  that  I  have  but  little  to  say  of  my  spir- 
itual state.  Fear  T  am  not  as  spiritually-minded  as  I  ought 
to  be.  Lord,  help  me  and  prepare  me  for  thy  work.  Feel  a 
little  more  of  the  spirit  of  prayer  to-day. 

March  28.  Letters  from  home,  and  also  from  a  dear  friend. 
How  it  excites  to  get  letters  of  affection.  Oh,  that  I  were 
more  worthy  of  my  friends. 

May  27.  Congregations  very  good.  Not  much  liberty. 
A  feeling  of  unworthiness.  Fear  the  people  are  disposed  to 
trust  too  much  to  my  efforts.     I  pity  them. 

May  28,  1861,  Twenty-seven  years  ago  this  evening  I  was 
born  the  second  time;  and  yet,  what  a  very  poor  Christian  I 
am.  So  often  overcome  by  the  least  trifles!  Asa  father, 
husband,  preacher,  bishop,  how  very  defective  I  am!  It  can 
not  be  that  grace  in  full  measure  ha'S  not  been  provided  for 
me.  If  ever  a  soul  needed  mercy  I  am  that  soul.  Am  often 
deeply  humbled  in  view  of  my  many  deficiencies.  O  God, 
take  my  poor  heart  and  purify  and  strengthen  it  so  that  I 
may  be  enabled  to  reflect  thy  image  more  perfectly. 


192  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

May  31.  Tliis  evening,  after  weeks  of  unbroken  affection 
and  peace,  suffered  a  mere  trifle  to  disturb  my  spirit  so  as  to 
bring  on  a  season  of  pouting.  Oh,  when  shall  I  be  a  man 
and  a  complete  Christian!  Well,  one  good  thing  is  taught 
by  these  seasons, — my  own  weakness  and  dependence.  But 
it  so  destroys  my  confidence  and  self-respect  that  I  am  some- 
times ashamed  to  look  up.  What  a  deep  is  the  human 
heart!  How  multitudinous  the  caverns  of  the  soul!  How  few 
ever  explore  all  of  them.  How  few  know  either  their  own 
hearts  or  those  of  their  most  intimate  friends!  O  Lord, 
search  thou  me  and  see  if  there  be  any  way  of  wickedness  in 
me.  There  is  victory,  there  is  power  with  thee.  Awake  to 
my  help,  and  that  right  early. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  refer  to  the  many  re- 
proaches Bishop  Edwards  applied  to  himself. 
Only  the  merest  novice  could  understand  from 
them  an  inferior  state  of  grace.  They  rather 
Bhow  the  keenest  sensibility  to  sin,  and  the  con- 
stant purpose  to  preserve  a  victory  over  it  by  an 
ever-renewed  faith.  He  not  only  was  resolved 
not  to  indulge  sin,  but  he  was  determined  to  find 
it  even  in  its  most  secret  lurking-places,  or  under 
its  most  deceptive  garb.  It  is  no  wonder,  there- 
fore, that  he  attained  an  extraordinary  knowledge 
of  the  heart.  Many  questions  as  to  faith,  the 
power  of  grace,  and  the  sanctification  of  believ- 
ers are  made  plain  when  viewed  in  the  light  of 
his  experience. 

Perhaps  some  of  his  references  to  his  sermons 
will  be  an  enigma  to   some.     The  expressions, 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  193 

**good  liberty,"  or  "poor  liberty,"  were  much  in 
use  a  few  years  ago.  Ministers  aimed  at  results, 
immediate  effects;  and  they  threw  themselves  for- 
ward upon  the  people,  depending  upon  the  Holy 
Spirit's  help  to  stir  up  the  minds  and  hearts  of 
the  audience.  We  can  easily  see  that  if  there 
was  not  something  of  an  unearthly  atmosphere, 
if  men's  concern  was  not  turned  to  their  souls, 
and  if  the  preacher's  soul  was  not  fitted  with  a 
powerful  directing  tendency  for  the  hour  of  such 
close  contact  and  changing  emergency,  strange 
and  woful  consequences  would  ensue.  The  help 
that  was  necessary  was  that  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Many  ministers  now  ask  for  this  help;  but  they 
are  careful  not  to  make  the  success  of  their  ser- 
mons depend  on  such  aid.  They  so  stock  their 
minds,  and  so  balance  themselves  against  any 
contingencies  in  the  audience,  that  they  may 
at  least  acquit  themselves  respectably  if  they 
should  not  be  aided  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  If  they 
do  not  aim  at  present  and  definite  results,  the  risk 
is  reduced  to  the  lowest  point;  and  this,  too,  it  is 
feared,  the  people  generally  prefer. 

Bishop  Edwards,  too,  had  to  preach,  fhost  gen- 
erally, in  the  face  of  curiosity,  or  unreasonable 
expectation,  either  of  which  frequently  amounts 
to  disability.  How  could  he,  when  people  came 
to  see  how  well  he  could  preach,  or  to   analyze 


194  LIFE   OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

him  as  he  preached,  make  them  feel  that  the 
problem  to  be  solved  was  with  themselves?  For 
himself  he  would  have  preferred  the  verdict  of 
failure  to  the  fame  of  victory  without  trophies 
for  the  Master.  It  is  by  no  means  to  be  under- 
stood, however,  that  the  people  exercised  as 
severe  a  judgment  on  his  preaching  as  he  did 
himself.  As  a  preacher,  the  people  always  regard- 
ed him  as  having  few  equals  and  no  superior  in 
the  church  of  his  choice.  True,  his  sermons 
were  not  all  .masterly,  but  they  all  received  the 
impress  of  a  superior  mind  intensely  in  earnest  in 
the  one  work  of  saving  souls.  In  making  selec- 
tions also  from  his  diary,  preference  has  been 
given  to  those  judgments  upon  himself  which 
were  the  most  rigorous.  The  side  of  his  success 
Le  passed  with  little  comment.  His  home  life  was 
characterized  by  great  composure.  His  children 
have  often  said,  "  We  never  knew  an  unpleas- 
ant word  to  pass  between  father  and  mother." 

Bishop  Edwards  traveled  and  preached  much 
on  his  district.  He  was  instrumental  in  promot- 
ing many  revivals.  A  more  thorough  consecra- 
tion and  increased  spirituality  were  the  results  of 
Lis  contact  with  ministers  and  members.  His 
texts  and  subjects  assumed  a  wider  range  than 
would  have  been  expected  in  the  case  of  one 
going  so  much  from  place  to  place.     An  exami- 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  195 

nation  of  the  diary  shows  that  in  seventy-one  ser- 
mons preached  in  1859,  fifty-one  different  texts 
were  used;  and  that  in  preaching  one  hundred 
and  twenty-seven  sermons  in  1859,  sixty-two  dif- 
ferent texts  were  used.  Of  the  other  sermons 
which  he  preached  during  these  two  years  the 
texts  are  not  named.  The  texts  used  oftenest 
were  Psalms  Ixxxi.  10;  Hebrews  xii.  1;  Acts  ix. 
31 ;  II.  Corinthians  viii.  9. 

The  era  of  church-dedication  had  fairly  begun. 
Work  of  this  kind  required  much  of  the  time 
and  energies  of  the  bishops.  Bishop  Edwards 
eouglit  to  connect  with  these  occasions  special 
efforts  for  revivals.  Indeed,  nothing  was  regarded 
as  meeting  its  purpose  if  conversions  did  not 
accompany  it. 

Very  little  can  be  given  iu  this  chapter  of  the 
nature  of  incident.  Some  read  biographies  only 
for  their  incidents ;  and  others  would  like  to  see 
those  whom  they  delight  to  honor  as  great  and 
good  in  nothing  but  grand  and  hallowed  associa- 
tions. But  unfortunately,  or  fortunately,  our 
heroes  do  not  live  constantly  in  extraordinary 
circumstances. 

The  bishops  had  been  constituted  by  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  a  committee  to  examine  the 
manuscript  of  the  revised  hymn-book.  The  com- 
mittee met  at  Grafton,  W.  Va.,  in  the  winter  of 


196  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

1858.  "WTiile  on  his  way  up  tlie  Ohio  Eiver  he 
was  introduced  to  a  gentleman,  a  school-teacher 
by  profession.  The  conversation  soon  turned 
upon  scientific  and  literary  subjects.  The  bishop 
himself,  early  in  life,  had  tried  his  hand  at  the 
same  profession.  The  gentleman  referred  to  was 
very  fluent  and  witty  in  conversation.  The  bishop 
seemed  thoughtful  and  cautious,  but  proved  a 
good  listener.  One  of  the  topics  upon  which 
the  teacher  expatiated  at  some  length  was  the 
mathematical  puzzle  as  to  a  line  continually  ap- 
proaching an  object  by  moves  of  half  the  remain- 
ing distance,  and  the  impossibility  of  reaching 
the  object.  He  said,  "  Geometricians  can  demon- 
strate that  there  are  curves  which  approach  con- 
tinually to  some  fixed  right  line  w^ithout  the 
possibility  of  ever  meeting  it."  As  the  bishop 
watched  the  statement  of  the  barriers  in  the  way, 
the  writhing  of  his  face  and  a  peculiar  drawing 
of  the  air  through  his  teeth,  a  sure  sign  that  he 
was  about  ready  for  some  move,  were  very  notice- 
able and  amusing.  For  a  moment  or  two  he 
seemed  embarrassed,  but  quickly  exclaimed,  "I 
would  break  right  through  and  get  there."  By 
this  practical  tendency  he  cut  many  a  Gordian 
knot. 

The    bishop's    daughters    were   just    reaching 
what  may  be  called   the  piano  or  cabinet-organ 


LIFE   OF  BISHOP   EDWARDS.  197 

period.  When  they  applied  to  him  for  an  instru- 
ment, he  replied  that  they  should  learn  to  play 
right  "well  on  the  wash-board  first. 

It  was  found  at  the  close  of  the  quadrennial 
term  that  the  Church  had  improved  rapidly  in 
respect  to  missions,  publishing  interest,  educa- 
tion, and  the  building  of  churches.  The  mem- 
bership of  the  Church  was  reported  at  over 
ninety-four  thousand — a  gain  of  over  thirty-three 
thousand  in  four  years.  In  the  ten  years  closing 
with  1861  the  membership  had  increased  from 
forty  thousand  to  the  number  above  given;  or,  in 
other  words,  doubled  itself,  with  fourteen  thou- 
sand to  spare.  This  increase  was  largely  due  to 
the  unity  of  sentiment  in  the  Church,  and  the 
fact  that  from  the  bishops  down  to  the  laity  the 
entire  membership  was  characterized  by  a  tireless 
and  aggressive  spirit. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Thirteenth  General    Conference  —  Re-elected  Bishop  —  Labor 
on  Bishop  Glossbrenner's  District — Diary — Incidents. 

n 


m 


'HE  thirteenth  General  Conference  met  at 
Westerville,  Ohio,  May  13,  1861.  This 
**  was  at  the  beginning  of  the  great  civil 
war,  and  the  members  of  the  conference  were 
filled  with  the  excitement  of  the  war-spirit, 
or  with  fearful  forebodings  of  the  desolation  that 
would  result  from  civil  strife.  It  was  known 
that  slavery  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  conflict. 
The  antislavery  record  and  convictions  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  therefore,  made  it  evi- 
dent from  the  beginning  that  no  church  would 
be  more  agitated  or  enthusiastic  for  the  Union 
than  the  United  Brethren  Church.  And  yet  the 
religious  needs  and  duties  of  men  are  supreme; 
and  though  among  tlie  masses  these  needs  and 
duties  may  be  temporarily  obscured  or  embar- 
rassed by  warring  elements,  they  still  should  coui- 
mand  the  unyielding  and  unvarying  attention  of 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  despite  the  casualties  and 
calamities  of  the  times. 

198 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  199 

In  the  General  Conference  thirty  annual  con- 
ferences were  entitled  to  representation.  Quite  a 
noted  example  occurred,  in  connection  with  the 
openino;  of  this  session,  of  Bishop  Edwards'  de- 
termination to  keep  tlie  face  of  his  moral  con- 
sciousness clear,  and  so  preserve  his  confidence 
toward  God  and  man.  In  the  conference  of  1857» 
while  the  depravity  question  was  being  consid- 
ered, he  had  said  some  rather  hard  things  in  ref- 
erence to  some  of  the  western  delegates.  He 
now  arose  and  said,  "  Four  years  ago  I  said  some 
hard  things  in  reference  to  some  of  the  western 
delegates.  I  have  been  repenting  over  these 
things  for  all  this  time,  and  I  believe  God  has 
forgiven  me;  and  I  want  the  brethren  to  forgive 
me."  It  is  but  just  to  say,  however,  that  the 
bishop  had  censured  himself  much  more  severely 
in  the  matter  referred  to  than  others  had  done. 

The  secret-society  question  again  came  up.  No 
modification,  however,  was  proposed  further  than 
to  prescribe  a  rule  by  which  ofienders  against  the 
law  of  the  Church  should  be  tried.  The  amend- 
ment was  that  those  connected  with  secret  socie- 
ties should  be  dealt  w^ith  "  as  in  other  cases  of 
immorality."  Pending  the  adoption  of  the  amend- 
ment, Bishop  Edwards  spoke  as  follows:  "We 
ought  not  to  fear  to  discuss  this  question.  Ad- 
vantage has  often  been  taken  of  our  silence.     Let 


200  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

US  express  our  couvictions  frankly  and  boldly. 
TVe  do  not  stand  alone  on  this  subject.  *  *  *  * 
The  people  can  not  attend  to  more  than  one  great 
evil  at  a  time;  and  when  slavery  is  disposed  of, 
then  Christian  sentiment  in  relation  to  these  soci- 
eties will  express  itself,  and  the  masses  of  the 
people  will  be  moved  as  they  are  now  in  relation 
to  slavery.  I  have  faith  in  human  progress.  *  * 
*  *  I  go  for  this  rule,  finally,  because  it  is  merci- 
ful. Secret  societies  are  like  old-fashioned  rat- 
traps, — it  is  easy  to  get  in,  but  hard  to  get  out  of 
them.  Therefore,  decided,  frank,  scripture  meas- 
ures should  be  adopted."  In  the  vote  to  adopt, 
but  five  voted  in  the  negative,  and  one  of  these 
afterward  transferred  his  vote  to  the  afiirmative. 
Sandusky  Conference  was  impeached  because 
of  its  methods  of  trying  several  ministers  who 
had  joined  the  Masons.  In  the  absence  of  spe- 
cific direction  in  the  Discipline,  the  conference 
had  devised  a  method  of  its  own.  The  confer- 
ence required  all  the  members  to  answer,  at  the 
time  of  the  general  examination,  as  to  whether 
they  stood  connected  with  any  secret  society. 
This  was  in  1857.  All  the  members  answered  in 
the  negative.  But  it  was  afterward  learned  that 
some  had  answered  falsely.  In  hundreds  of  simi- 
lar cases  it  has  been  demonstrated,  as  Bishop 
Edwards   often   said,   "that   Masons,  apparently 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  201 

unimpeachable,  will  lie  without  scruple  on  mat- 
ters touching  their  order,"  It  may  in  part  be  set 
doAvn  to  the  previous  character  of  those  who  join 
the  order  as  indicated  by  the  fact  of  their  joining 
such  an  institution,  but  in  greater  part  to  the 
mysterious  power  that  Masonry  has  to  stifle  man- 
hood and  conscience.  The  only  real  objection  to 
the  measure  used  is  the  uncertainty  of  obtaining 
the  truth  from  those  who  have  come  under  this 
blight.  1^0  one  who  has  any  fair  comprehension 
of  the  nature  and  responsibility  of  the  ministerial 
office  can  object  to  a  stricter  rule  for  the  ministry 
than  is  used  in  the  civil  courts,  or  in  the  exami- 
nation and  trial  of  persons  in  the  ordinary  walks 
of  life. 

In  1858  Sandusky  Conference  again  used  the 
same  test;  and  this  led  those  who  had  been  impli- 
cated to  acknowledge  that  they  were  Masons. 
Some  made  confessions  as  to  the  sinfulness  of 
their  course,  and  promised  loyalty  to  the  Church. 
One  was  suspended  for  one  year  and  one  was 
expelled.  All,  however,  finally  complied  with  the 
requirements  of  the  conference,  and  continued 
in  the  Church.  The  course  of  Sandusky  Confer- 
ence was  generally  approved,  except  as  some 
feared  the  establishment  of  a  precedent  which 
might  in  other  cases  work  injury.  Bishop  Ed- 
wards showed  his  candor  and  g:ood  sense  in  the 


202  LIFE    OF    BISUOP    EDWARDS. 

following  remarks :  "  I  can  not  vote  heartily  on 
either  side.  I  am  not  satisfied  that  the  pro- 
cedure was  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  rules 
of  the  Church.  For  years  we  have  met  this  wily 
foe  of  secrecy,  seeking  to  make  its  way  into  the 
Church  at  every  crevice.  *  *  *  *  I  am  clearly 
of  the  opinion  that  to  clandestinely  go  into  the 
lodge  and  conceal  the  fact  from  the  Church  is  a 
crime  I  hardly  have  language  to  characterize 
properly.  The  rule  of  Sandusky  Conference, 
however,  is  a  merciful  rule,  designed  to  save  the 
brethren."  In  the  vote  to  sustain  the  conference 
Bishop  Edwards  voted  in  the  affirmative,  there 
being  but  three  votes  in  the  negative. 

At  this  session  seven  new  conferences  were 
formed, —  Fox  River,  West  Des  Moines,  Indiana 
German,  California,  Massachusetts,  "Western  Re- 
serve, and  North  Michigan.  Iowa  and  North 
Iowa  were  permitted  to  separate.  Kentucky  and 
Nebraska  mission-conferences  ceased  for  the  time 
to  be  recognized  as  conferences. 

Bishop  Edwards  was  again  elected  a  member 
of  the  missionary  Board.  IIo  was  also  elected 
for  his  fourth  term  as  bishop.  J.  J.  Glossbrenuer, 
J.  Markwood,  D.  Shuck,  and  11.  Kumlcr  were  his 
colleagues.     Thus  for  the  first  time  the  Church 

o 

had  five  bishops  —  a  truly  strong  Board,  and  one 
that  well  represented  the  Church.     Bishop  Shuck 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  203 

was  assigned  to  the  Pacific  coast,  and  Bishop 
Kumler  presided  over  the  German  work.  Bishop 
Glossbreuner  was  returned  to  the  East  District 
and  Bishop  Markwood  was  sent  to  the  Northwest 
District.  Bishop  Edwards  remained  on  the  South- 
west District.  His  conferences  were  White  River, 
Miami,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Kansas,  Missouri,  Scioto, 
Upper  Wabash,  and  Lower  Wabash. 

Bishop  Edwards  was  appointed  on  a  committee 
to  prepare  a  youth's  scripture  compend.  The 
work  appeared  in  due  time,  and  met  with  an  ex- 
tensive and  continued  sale.  The  little  work  con- 
tains much  instruction,  and  in  a  very  helpful 
form. 

The  General  Conference  closed  with  the  follow- 
ing remarks  from  Bishop  Edwards :  "  This  has 
been  one  of  the  most  pleasant  General  Confer- 
ences I  have  ever  attended.  Long  will  I  remem- 
ber the  General  Conference  of  1861.  Again  the 
fact  has  been  developed  here  that  on  all  impor- 
tant questions,  on  all  great  moral  questions,  this 
Church  is  a  unit.  Toward  this  perfect  unity  the 
tendency  has  been  constant  for  the  last  ten  years. 
God  has  had  a  purpose  in  raising  up  this  people, 
but  there  is  danger  that  the  vessel  be  marred. 
Let  us  be  watchful.  We  need  to  possess  a  higher 
spirituality." 

Bishop  Edwards  attended  all   his  conferences 


204  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

during  his  entire  term,  with  the  exception  of 
the  Kansas  and  Missouri  the  first  year,  transit 
being  made  impossible  for  the  time  by  the  war. 
By  the  same  condition  Bishop  Glossbrenner  was 
shut  up  for  the  entire  term  in  Virginia.  He 
attended  only  one  session  of  conference  during 
the  four  years;  namely,  the  Virginia,  in  1864. 
A  circumstance  will  indicate  how  closely  he  waa 
watched.  A  sick  confederate  officer,  who  had 
been  quartered  at  the  house  of  Bishop  Glossbren- 
ner, and  been  kindly  cared  for,  was  brought  before 
the  court  and  questioned,  with  a  view  to  obtain- 
ing a  pretext  for  arresting  and  robbing  the 
bishop.  Among  other  things,  the  sick  officer  was 
asked  if  the  bishop  prayed  in  his  family.  "  Yes, 
every  day,"  was  the  reply.  "  Can  you  discover," 
said  the  lawyer,  "for  which  side  he  prays?"  Thus 
watched  and  hemmed  in  within  rebel  lines,  he 
was  scarcely  heard  of  during  the  first  three  years 
of  his  term. 

A  considerable  part  of  the  duties  of  Bishop 
Glossbrenner  devolved  upon  Bishop  Edwards. 
Hence  in  1861  he  presided  at  the  Muskingum 
Conference;  in  1862  at  the  Alleghany,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Erie,  "Western  Reserve,  and  Muskingum 
conferences;  in  1863  at  the  same  as  in  1862,  with 
the  addition  of  North  Michigan  and  Michigan 
conferences;  and  in  1864  the  Muskingum,  Erie 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  205 

"Western  Reserve,  and  !N"orth  Michigan  confer- 
ences. He  also  assisted  Bishop  Markwood  in 
presiding  at  the  East  Pennsylvania  Conference  in 
1863. 

His  duties  were  augmented  to  no  small  extent 
by  the  demands  that  came  to  him  in  various 
ways  from  the  Eastern  District.  The  result  of 
this  extension  of  duties  was  to  give  him  an  ac- 
quaintance and  extend  his  influence  in  parts  of 
the  Church  which  he  had  not  before  visited 
as  superintendent.  The  extreme  parts  of  the 
ISTorthwest  District,  the  Pacific  coast,  and  perhaps 
Parkersburg  and  Virginia  conferences,  were  all 
that  had  not  now  been  visited.  ISTumerous  evi- 
dences have  been  preserved  of  the  industry  and 
labors  of  Bishop  Edwards  during  this  period. 
One  year,  in  time  of  harvest,  he  was  engaged  in 
holding  a  successful  protracted  meeting  in  Indi- 
ana. Another  time  he  preached  twenty-five  times 
in  twenty-four  days.  He  was,  in  fact,  an  evan- 
gelist as  well  as  a  bishop. 

Let  us  turn  again  to  his  journal.  It  will  be  the 
last  time  that  we  shall  have  the  privilege  of  the 
intimacy  which  the  journal  oft'ers,  as  its  last  page 
closes  with  1864. 

June  15.  Quarterly  and  dedication  meeting  commence  to- 
day. Know  not  what  to  preach.  Oh,  for  light  and  strength. 
God,  give  us  some  quickening  power  while  preaching  from 
*'  Who  art  thou,  0  great  Mountain?" 


206  LIFE   OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

Sunday,  June  16^  The  text,  "The  Lord  is  there,"  to  some 
extent  verified  while  preaching  the  dedication  sermon. 
Brother  S.  preached  at  four.  Good  old  bread  as  to  doctrine 
and  phrases. 

June  23.  The  Lord  was  near  in  the  grove  in  secret  prayer, 
and  blessed  preacher  and  people  largely  while  I  was  talking 
of  the  meeting  at  the  transfiguration. 

August  12.  Feel  an  unusual  need  of  more  faith,  com- 
munion, and  spiritual  power.  'Tis  certainly  for  us.  The 
Bible  is  full  of  promises  of  help.  In  us  is  no  power.  Oh, 
that  the  Lord  would  shed  forth  his  Spirit,  pour  it  out  upon 
us.  I  must  have  more  spirituality.  Lord,  for  the  sake  of 
others,  bless  one  so  unworthy. 

August  14.  Started  to  White  River  Conference.  Felt 
deeply  the  need  of  better  preparation  for  the  duties  before 
me.  What  a  poor  bishop.  A  poorer  preacher,  and  a  still 
poorer  Christian,  I  fear.     O  God,  for  help. 

Augvbsi  15.  A  peaceful  day.  Money  matters  a  little  bet- 
ter than  feared,  but  a  declension  in  revival  influence  and  ag- 
gressive spirit. 

August  16.  God  was  with  us  in  the  conference  room, 
and  helped  at  night  in  preaching. 

Sunday,  August  18.  Brother  Markwood  preached  at  ten 
about  the  cherubim  and  coal  of  fire  spoken  of  by  Isaiah. 
Very  good  sermon — one  hour  and  forty-five  minutes  long. 

August  22.  Miami  Conference  commenced.  Examina- 
tions rather  superficial.  No  iielp  from  the  eMers.  Oh,  that 
God  would  help  to  stir  up  tiie  preachers.  We  must  have 
help.  J.  G.  Fee  was  with  us  and  gave  us  a  good  address.  He 
is  of  the  right  spirit  —  the  martyr  spirit.  If  we — all  Chris- 
tian ministers — were  like  him  there  would  be  more  purity  in 
the  world. 

August  24.    Hard 'time  in  the  Stationing  Committee.   Tea 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS.  207 

preachers  more  than  needed.  Some  that  were  appointed  will 
not  go,  and  some  will  not  accomplish  much. 

Sunday,  August  25.  Did  not  preach  much  of  a  sermon 
to-day.  But  God  was  with  us,  and  the  meeting  was  profit- 
able. Indications  of  a  revival  this  year  encouraging.  Lord, 
send  it.     Amen. 

AugUjSt  26.  Conference  closed.  Generally  a  harmonious 
session,  but  some  are  hurt  about  their  appointments.  Oh, 
that  all  had  the  spirit  of  consecration. 

September  5.  Indiana  Conference  began  well;  only  a 
little  dry  and  lean  in  attendance.  The  war  has  terribly 
blighted  this  region.  ^Brother  I.  C.  preached  at  night.  How 
much  he  needs  cultivation. 

September  7.  Nothing  unusual  to-day.  At  three  preached 
conference  sermon.  Some  very  plain  talk.  But  God  waa 
with  me,  and  all  passed  well. 

Sunday,  September  8.  At  ten  preached  in  the  grove  to  a 
large  crowd,  with  good  liberty,  from  the  transfiguration. 
Preached  at  night  in  the  Baptist  church.     Poor  and  dry. 

September  13.  This  day  Father  Lane  signed  over  to  me 
notes  to  the  amount  of  over  six  thousand  dollars  for  the 
missionary  society, — only  a  part  of  what  he  intends  to  do. 
Lord,  reward  him,  and  make  the  donation  a  blessing  to  the 
world. 

September  14.  Considerable  debate  to-day.  I  hurt  one 
brother's  feelings  by  speaking  a  little  short.  God,  forgive 
me.  A  hard  time  on  the  Stationing  Committee.  One  selfish 
brother  became  offended  at  a  plain,  truthful  remark. 

Sunday,  September  15.  A  long  meeting.  Preached  at 
eleven  to  a  large  congregation  in  the  woods.  Gave  a  lecture 
at  four  on  Sunday-schools.     A  good  time. 

September  16.  Preached  conference  sermon  at  two.  God 
was  with  us.  Experience  meeting  at  night.  The  Spirit  waa 
freely  poured  out. 


208  LITE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

September  17.  Learned  that  I  could  not  get  through  Mia- 
souri  on  account  of  the  rebellion.     Took  the  cars  for  home. 

September  25.  Started  for  Muskingum  Conference  at  half 
past  one  in  the  morning.  Arrived  at  nine,  and  preached  on 
the  state  of  the  country  at  ten.  Preached  plain,  straight- 
out  abolition  doctrine;  but  it  seemed  to  go  down  well,  as  fai 
as  I  could  see. 

Sunday,  September  29.  God  was  very  near  us  to-day.  We 
asked  largely  for  the  Spirit,  and  he  was  given  to  us.  Text, 
"Open  wide  thy  mouth."  Preached  again  at  four — a  mis- 
sionary sermon. 

October  2.  Left  home  for  Scioto  Conference.  Feel  empty 
and  much  need  of  help  from  heaven.  Oh,  that  I  were 
better  qualified  to  do  good.  What  shall  I  do  to  get  nearer 
to  God.  I  often  tell  others  what  to  do.  Oh,  that  I  could 
teach  myself. 

October  3.  Conference  tolerably  full,  but  lack  of  power 
among  the  preachers. 

Sunday,  October  6.  Preached  conference  sermon  with  some 
effect.  A  pointed  talk  to  the  preachers  on  the  importance 
of  qualifications  for  the  work  in  little  things. 

Bisllop  Edwards  from  his  own  choice  attended 
Sandusky  Conference,  in  Bishop  Markwood's  dis- 
trict. 

October  15.  Started  at  eight  for  Sandusky  Conference. 
Had  hardly  time  to  pray.  Ought  to  have  risen  sooner,  so  as 
to  have  had  time. 

October  17.  Tried  to  preach  at  night.  Hampered  much. 
Perhaps  tried  to  say  too  much.  Had  I  taken  a  new  text  and 
attempted  a  short  discourse,  would  have  had  better  light. 
Text,  "  Open  wide  thy  mouth." 

October  18.  Self  somewhat  mortified.  Let  it  die.  Feel 
ead  and  drawn  out  in  prayer  for  purity  and  power. 


LIFE   OF  BISHOP   EDWARDS.  209 

October  19.  Am  listening  to  an  old-fashioned  preacher. 
Powerful  in  prayer,  but  in  preaching  covers  too  much  ground 
to  succeed  long. 

Sunday,  October  20.  Brother  Markwood  preached  a  good 
conference  sermon  at  ten.  One  point,  that  on  holiness,  es- 
pecially, melted  my  heart  and  the  hearts  of  others.  I  tried 
to  preach  at  night  on  the  sacrament.  Good  meeting.  Many 
hearts  melting.     Praise  God. 

November  16.  Came  to  Daleville,  Indiana,  to  a  quarterly 
and  dedication  meeting.  Brother  Wright  preached  at  eleven. 
Good,  solemn,  and  searching.  I  preached  at  night  from  the 
poverty  of  Christ.  Fear  we  shall  have  a  hard  time  to  raise 
the  money — nearly  three  hundred  dollars.  Some  rich  onea 
in  the  way. 

Sunday,  November  17.  Preached  dedication  sermon.  Good 
liberty.  God  made  me  happy.  But  oh,  what  an  effort,  and 
what  a  failure  as  to  the  money, — one  hundred  and  twenty 
dollars  back.     Can't  help  it.     Did  my  best. 

November  27.  Father  Lane  came  to  my  house  to  make 
over  some  land  to  the  missionary  society;  also  some  notes, 
making  his  donation,  to  this  time,  thirteen  thousand  dollars. 

January  2,  1862.  Alleghany  Conference  opened  in  usual 
form.  Day  passed  pleasantly.  Something  of  a  revival  in 
progress  here.  Four  forward  last  night,  and  twelve  to-night. 
Evidently  the  mourners  depend  too  much  on  their  physical 
eflforts.  Tried  to  talk  to  them  ;  but  they  are  not  of  the  talk- 
ing kind.  How  strange  their  views  of  the  method  of  obtain- 
ing religion !  But  God  knows  their  hearts,  and  knows  when 
to  bless  them. 

January  4.  Preachers  of  this  conference  need  very  much 
a  new  consecration  to  God.  Policy  too  far  prevails  in  all 
their  arrangements.  It  will  ruin  them  unless  they  learn  a 
more  excellent  wav. 


210  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

Sunday,  Jcmuary  5.  The  Lord  gave  me  power  to  preach 
at  ten  o'clock.    Five  were  ordained.    One  is,  I  fear,  a  Mason. 

January  17.  Pennsylvania  Conference  begun.  Prospects 
of  a  pleasant  session.  To-night  Brother  K.  preached  from 
redeeming  the  time.  A  good,  very  good  sermon.  What 
good  that  man  might  do  if  he  had  good  business  habits. 
But  his  poor  financiering  spoils  all. 

January  20.  Preached  conference  sermon  at  ten.  Very 
plain.  Some  writhed  under  it,  I  think.  "I  magnify  mine 
office."  Conference  closed  pleasantly.  Heard  no  grumbling. 
God  be  praised. 

March  6.  Upper  Wabash  Conference.  Rose  at  five  o'clock 
and  rode  nine  miles  through  a  very  cold  morning.  And  oh, 
what  a  poor  prospect  for  a  conference!  House  cold  and  dirty. 
At  night  Brother  D.  preached  a  kind  of  a  sermon.  Oh,  for 
a  revival  spirit. 

March  9.  Preached  the  conference  sermon.  Felt  some- 
what solemn,  and  think  some  good  was  done.  At  three  a 
missionary  sermon,  from  "  Gu  ye  into  all  the  world." 

March  13.  Lower  Wabash  Conference.  An  exciting  ses- 
sion. The  conference  took  steps  toward  building  a  school. 
I  preached. 

March  15.  An  unusual  melting  time  at  the  reading  of  the 
appointments.  In  the  evening  preached  the  conference  ser- 
mon.    Good  impression. 

Sunday,  March  16.  One  of  the  best  morning  meetings  1 
ever  was  in.  Preached  at  ten.  A  wonderful  outpouring  of 
the  Spirit.     Glory. 

October  9.  Western  Reserve  Conference.  A  stormy  com- 
mencement. Lord,  have  mercy  upon  us.  At  night  preached. 
A  good  and  profitable  time. 

October  10.  A  better  spirit  prevailed  to-day.  Peace  and 
love  seem  coming  up. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS.  211 

Sunday,  October  12.     Preached  in  the  grove.     God  helped. 

October  13.     Conference  closed  in  harmony  and  love. 

October  16.  Erie  Conference.  A  pretty  good  conference. 
Nearly  all  strangers  to  me;  consequently  my  blunt  manners 
don't  take  very  well. 

Sunday,  October  19.  God  was  with  us  to-day  while  preach- 
ing. At  night  read  the  appointments.  Some  growling.  God 
reigns. 

His  mother  had  died  during  this  year.  On 
going  to  the  family  home  at  Delaware,  Ohio,  he 
wrote,  "  One  is  wanting,  who  has  long  been  to  me 
a  praying  mother.  Believe  she  has  gone  to  rest. 
She  died  in  triumph." 

The  year  1863  was  begun  with  the  invariable 
prayer  for  "  power,  grace,  and  holiness,"  to  begin 
his  Christian  life  and  work  anew.  Some  occa- 
sional entries  will  now  be  given  upon  his  trip  in 
1863  to  the  East. 

January  22.  Pennsylvania  Conference  commenced  in  a 
good,  moral  atmosphere.  Yet  I  feel  that  I  have  not  the  sym- 
pathy of  the  brethren.  They  seem  distant,  and  suspicious  of 
western  men. 

Sunday,  January  25.  God  was  very  near  this  morning 
while  I  preached.     Text,  "Open  wide  thy  mouth." 

On  this  Sabbath  morning  Bishop  Edwards  was 
in  excellent  condition,  and  had  a  large  and  appre- 
ciative audience.  As  he  spoke  of  the  divine 
interposition  of  the  past,  the  whole  house  seemed 
lighted  up  with  glory.      Many  wept,  and  others 


212  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

ebouted.  Among  the  preachers  who  occupied  a 
place  in  the  pulpit  with  him  that  day  was  one 
who  has  since  filled  the  high  office  of  bishop. 
After  the  congregation  was  dismissed  the  brother 
came  round  to  Brother  Jacob  Hoke.  Weeping 
and  wiping  his  eyes  he  said,  "  0  brother,  it  seems 
to  me  that  I  can  never  after  this  attempt  to 
preach." 

February  1.  In  New  York,  on  my  way  to  Massachusetts. 
Heard  H.  W.  Beecher  this  morning.  The  church  ought  to 
pray  for  him.  Oh,  if  he  had  as  much  unction  as  talent, 
what  good  he  might  dol 

Bishop  Edwards  found  the  mission -work  in 
Massachusetts  not  very  flourishing  or  promising. 
Stormy  weather  and  small  audiences  prevented 
his  doing  much  while  there. 

An  incident  during  a  visit  which  he  made  to 
Boston  must  not  be  omitted.  He,  almost  from 
time  immemorial,  wore  an  ample,  white,  broad- 
brimmed  beaver  hat, — perhaps  as  a  sort  of  protest 
against  the  folly  of  Fashion's  changes.  But  he 
may  tell  the  story.  "The  most  of  the  people 
Beemed  to  say,  Stay  off;  you  don't  belong  to  us. 
My  white  hat  may  have  had  something  to  do 
with  it.  I  suffered  no  little  persecution  while 
walking  the  streets.  Wherever  I  went  I  would 
hear  the  boys  calling  out,  'There  goes  the  man 
with  a  white  hat.'    'Who  skinned  the  cat?'  called 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  213 

out  one.  This  was  repeated  again  and  again,  till 
my  hat  really  began  to  seem  out  of  place.  One 
man,  riding  in  a  covered  wagon,  called  to  me  and 
pulled  off  a  white  hat  and  held  it  out  toward  me, 
as  if  to  say,  You  have  one  friend.  On  my  way 
home,  while  at  East  Pennsylvania  Conference, 
some  of  the  brethren,  hearing  of  my  tribulations, 
put  a  five-dollar  bill  into  my  pocket,  with  the 
remark,  '  This  is  to  get  a  black  hat.'  If  my  friends 
who  have  known  me  for  twenty-five  years  by  the 
same  hat  object  to  the  change,  they  can  charge 
it  to  the  ill-mannered  Boston  boys  and  the  good 
brethren  of  East  Pennsylvania  Conference." 

Bishop  Edwards  preached  twice  in  Delaware, 
Ohio,  the  seat  of  Ohio  Wesleyan  University,  to 
large  and  appreciative  audiences.  After  one  of 
the  sermons.  Dr.  Merrick,  president  of  the  uni- 
versity, greeted  him  with  tears  and  exclaimed, 
*' Oh,  your  sermon  has  helped  me!  It  has  done 
me  so  much  good."  In  fact,  the  educated  and 
illiterate  were  alike  charmed  and  instructed  by 
his  pulpit  efforts. 

August  12,  Left  home  to  begin  the  fall  work.  Oh,  how 
much  I  need  help  from  heaven!     Will  the  Lord  help? 

August  13.  Western  Reserve  Conference  opened  in  fine 
spirit.     Love  and  peace  seemed  to  cliaracterize  all  present. 

August  15.  Conference  continues  good, — one  of  the  best. 
Not  a  hard  time  in  the  Stationing  Committee.  Left  on© 
brother  without  an  appointment.     God  help  him. 


214  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

Sunday,  August  16.  At  ten  preached  in  the  grove  to  a 
very  attentive  audience. 

August  17.  Conference  closed.  All  is  right.  No  grum- 
bling heard.  God,  keep  and  help  the  preachers  to  be  holy 
men. 

Sunday,  August  30.  Indiana  Conference.  Preached  coi»- 
ference  sermon.  Pretty  good  meeting.  Read  the  appoint- 
ments.    General  satisfaction.     Praise  God. 

September  5.  Upper  Wabash  Conference.  Some  trouble 
on  the  Stationing  Committee  to-day.  Oh,  what  a  heap  of 
human  nature  in  men. 

Snnday,  September  6.  Preached  at  ten,  in  the  grove,  upoD 
the  itineracy.  God  helped.  At  night  on  the  "Leaven." 
Not  so  clear. 

September  11,  Illinois  Conference.  Spoke  too  sharply  to 
Brother  J.  Dunning,  and  felt  weakened  and  mortified  by  it. 
Felt  that  he  should  be  reproved;  but  I  did  it  with  too  much 
feeling.     God  pity  me.     Oh,  for  love. 

September  12.  Took  the  remark  referred  to  above  back  to- 
day, and  felt  well  over  it. 

September  19.  North  Michigan.  A  small  mission-confer- 
ence, but  possesses  some  elements  of  vitality.  Some  petty 
jangling. 

September  25.  Scioto.  Much  trouble  throughout  the  con- 
ference territory  on  secession.  Fear  much  loss.  But  if  the 
purity  of  the  Church  can  be  maintained,  all  will  be  well. 

October  12.  Took  the, train  for  home  to  vote  against  the 
traitor  Vallandigham. 

This  concludes  the  extracts  from  the  journal, 
except  those  that  belong  to  the  single  yGar  that 
is  to  follow.  The  extracts  for  1864  will,  perhaps, 
be  a  little  more  full. 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  215 

Late  in  1863  Bishop  Edwards  sold  his  property 
in  Dayton,  and  purchased  fifteen  acres  of  par- 
tially improved  land,  with  a  fair  dwelling-house 
upon  it,  near  Sonora,  Ohio,  He  obtained  posses- 
sion of  this  property  and  moved  to  it  very  soon 
after  the  purchase.  He  had  lived  a  little  over  ten 
years  in  Dayton.  His  object  in  making  this 
change  was  to  go  where  living  was  not  so  expen- 
sive, and  where  he  could  have  the  benefit  of 
country  air,  hoping  that  thereby  his  health  would 
be  improved.  To  have  remained  in  Dayton  would 
have  been  better  for  his  work.  Besides,  the  city 
schools  furnished  an  advantage  for  his  children 
which  he  could  not  afford  them  elsewhere.  Yet 
his  salary  and  his  expenses  of  living  being  what 
they  were,  he  could  not  remain  in  Dayton ;  for  he 
would  not  ruin  himself  in  his  expenses,  and  he 
believed  it  to  be  his  duty  to  so  shift  as  to  go  on 
in  his  work. 

January  1,  1864.  Must  keep  a  better  memoir  this  year. 
God  help  me  to  be  a  good  man. 

With  how  many  persons  the  man  is  forgotten 
in  the  incidental  prominence  of  official  position, 
and  even  our  own  duties  to  God  forgotten,  while 
the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  other-s  are  urged 
— function  taking  the  place  of  character.  But 
no  vanity  or  bewilderment  made  such  self-decep- 
tion and  calamity  possible  in  the  case  of  Bishop 
Edwards. 


216  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

January  4.  Am  led  to  consider  the  depravity  of  man, 
and  the  consequent  danger  to  religion  and  country.  Oh,  for 
a  trumpet  to  sound  the  alarm. 

January  5.  Home.  All  well.  Thanks  to  Him  who  cares 
for  and  keeps  us  and  ours.  Am  waking  up  somewhat  to  the 
importance  of  help  from  above.  Felt  in  the  cars  the  spirit 
of  prayer.  God  help  and  pour  out  the  spirit  of  grace  and 
supplication. 

January  25.  Long  will  this  day  be  remembered.  Old 
sores  healed  and  old  grudges  forgiven.  God  subdued  some 
stubborn  hearts.     Praise  his  holy  name. 

January  31.  West  Sonora.  Preached  to-night.  Consid- 
erable liberty  and  earnestness  in  speaking;  but  the  after  serv- 
ices proved  a  little  dragging.  This  day  was  some  tempted. 
Felt  weary  of  the  ministry.  May  God  forgive  me,  and  bear 
•with  my  infirmities.  Oh,  when  shall  I  have  complete  victory. 

The  above  expression  of  weariness  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry  is  the  only  one  of  the  kind  oc- 
curring from  the  bishop.  But  he  was  a  man,  and 
not  more  than  a  man.  It  will  readily  be  admitted 
by  all  that  by  acts  of  faith  so  renewed  that  they 
appeared  rather  a  state,  he  kept  himself  much 
above  ordinary  experience.  Yet  sometimes  he 
was  robbed  to  a  considerable  extent  of  his  tri- 
umph, or  victory,  as  he  called  it,  and  presented 
the  characteristics  of  human  frailty  and  wearying 
conflict.  Thus  he  becomes  to  us  a  more  encourag- 
ing example.  At  West  Sonora  he  looked  oftener 
upon  the  same  faces  and  the  same  scenes.  His 
attention    and  labor,  also,   in    fitting  up  a   new 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  21T 

home,  made  the  atmosphere  about  him  more  sec- 
ular. Yet  he  did  not  succumb  to  this  influence. 
He  assisted  in  a  glorious  revival-meeting  at  So- 
nora,  and  lent  a  helping  hand  in  various  other 
meetings. 

March  12.  Worked  hard  in  planting  and  transplanting 
trees.  Think  T  will  divide  the  time  better  between  books 
and  work.  The  tendency  with  me  is  to  run  too  much  to 
physical  labor  to  the  neglect  of  the  pen  and  studying. 

Sunday,  March  13.  Poorly  prepared  for  the  Sabbath. 
How  easy  to  become  secularized,  so  that  the  thoughts  will 
uot  easily  fix  themselves  on  religious  things!  Tried  to 
preach  on  an  old  familiar  theme,  but  had  poor  liberty. 

March  17.  Started  east  to  see  "  Uncle  Abraham,"  to  ask 
Bome  modification  of  the  order  of  Secretary  of  War  concern- 
ing southern  churches. 

Secretary  Stanton  had  issued  an  order  by  which 
all  churches,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
South,  not  occupied  by  a  loyal  minister,  appoint- 
ed by  a  loyal  bishop,  were  turned  over  to  the  dis- 
posal of  Bishop  Ames.  The  United  Brethren 
Church  had  encouraging  missions  at  Vicksburg 
and  at  Davis  Bend,  and  was  contemplating  quite 
general  work  among  the  freedmen,  and  it  was 
thought  that  the  order  of  Mr.  Stanton  would  be 
prejudicial  to  the  work  undertaken.  Rev.  D.  K. 
Flickinger  and  L.  Davis  were  also  on  the  com- 
mittee. The  result  of  the  visit  to  Washington 
was  an  order  from  the  Secretary  of  War  which,  in 


218  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

Bubstance,  was  satisfactory.  As  this  was  the  first 
and  only  instance  of  the  United  Brethren  send- 
ing a  deputation  to  Washington,  we  will  let 
Bishop  Edwards  tell  the  story. 

Sunday,  March  20.  Spent  a  part  of  this  day  preparing  our 
paper  to  present  to  the  officials.  At  eleven  o'clock  went  to 
hear  Dr.  Chatining.  A  finely  prepared  lecture;  but  it  would 
take  a  vast  amount  of  such  preaching  to  save  a  soul.  Worked 
till  late  at  night  on  our  paper.  Don't  know  that  it  was 
entirely  right;  but  our  time  is  precious,  and  this  is  the 
Lord's  work. 

March  21.  Still  have  difficulties  in  getting  our  paper  to 
suit  us,  but  finally  decided  upon  the  form  to  be  used.  Went 
to  the  Capitol  and  made  the  acquaintance  of  General  Schenck 
and  Senator  Wade.  Both  promised  to  go  with  us  to-morrow 
to  see  the  Secretary  of  War.  We  moved  our  quarters  to  the 
Woodbine,  where  we  are  to  get  boarding  at  one  dollar  and  a 
half,  instead  of  four  dollars  per  day. 

March  22.  This  morning,  according  to  arrangements,  we 
went  to  see  the  Secretary  of  War.  Obtained  some  favors 
through  an  order,  but  could  not  easily  reach  the  secretary 
on  ecclesiastical  points. 

March  23.  Visited  Secretary  Chase.  We  were  kindly 
received,  and  taken  by  him  in  person  and  introduced  to  the 
President,  with  wliom  we  had  an  interesting  interview.  We 
also  visited  Attorney-General  Bates,  with  wliom  we  had  a» 
encouraging  and  long-to-be-remembered  talk.  Finished  oui 
work.     Feel  tliat  it  will  pay  in  the  end. 

March  31.  Lower  Wabash  Conference.  Did  not  arrive  at 
coiiference-room  until  2:00  p.  M.  The  first  time  for  yeari 
that  1  have  been  beliind  lime. 

April  L     Flickinger  sick.      At  night  preached   from    tlu 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  21^ 

"precious  promises."     Fear  I  do  not  feel  the  full  force  of 
what  I  say.     Oh,  for  faith,— practical,  experimental. 

Sunday,  April  3.  Preached  from  the  solemn  charge  of  the 
apostle  to  Timothy.  Preached  an  old  missionary  sermon  at 
night  and  raised  two  hundred  and  eighty  dollars. 

April  7.  Missouri  Conference  commenced  well.  Reports 
excellent.     What  a  field  for  us  in  Missouri. 

April  9.  Conference  sermon  at  two  o'clock.  Pretty  good 
liberty  while  talking  from  the  charge  to  Timothy. 

April  10.  At  ten  o'clock  preached  a  missionary  sermon, 
from  the  "blessing  of  Obed-Edom."  Good  day.  All  peace 
and  love.     God  be  praised. 

April  15.  Kansas  Conference.  Characters  of  members  not 
clear.  Some  must  be  disposed  of  before  we  can  have  real 
peace.     One  expelled  and  another  on  the  hook. 

In  May,  1864,  Bishop  Edwards  assumed  the 
pastoral  charge,  for  three  months,  of  the  First 
Church,  Dayton.  His  relation  as  pastor  waa 
agreeable  to  all  concerned;  and  his  labors  in 
visiting  and  preaching  were  marked  by  faithful- 
ness, and  were  attended  with  advancement  and 
increased  spirituality  in  the  church. 

July  18.  Came  home  on  the  evening  train.  Sick  with 
fever.  This  is  the  third  week.  This  time  took  the  matter 
to  my  heavenly  Father.  I  always  succeed  in  going  to  him, 
even  in  the  smallest  temporal  matters. 

August  12.  Started  on  my  long,  long,  fall  tour  of  eleveri 
weeks.  Oh,  that  God  would  go  with  me  and  prepare  me  for 
a  successful  campaign.  He  has  promised  help,  and  will  give 
it  if  my  state  of  heart  is  such  that  be  can  do  so  without 
injury  to  me  or  others. 


220  LIFE    OP   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

August  \1.  White  River  and  Indiana  conferences  now  in 
joint  session  at  Hartsville.  Preached  at  night  from  the  faith 
of  Abraham. 

Sunday,  August  21.  Preached  to  a  large  congregation.  A 
good  time.     Six  ordained, — three  of  each  conference. 

Then  followed  Miami  and  Upper  Wabash  con- 
ferences. These  sessions  were  harmonious  and 
interesting. 

September  11.  Lower  Wabash  Conference.  Preached  to  a 
large  congregation  out-doors.  By  special  request  I  preached 
from  the  subject  used  at  the  last  conference, — "  family  relig- 
ion." At  the  close  a  Presbyterian  asked  me  to  go  four  milea 
and  preach  the  same  at  the  county-seat;  but  did  not  go.  At 
night  a  missionary  meeting  and  a  farewell  shake-hands  with 
the  preachers. 

Sunday,  September  18.  Illinois  Conference.  At  ten  o'clock 
preached  from  Daniel's  character.  Ordained  four.  At  night 
a  missionary  talk.     A  good  time.     Praise  God. 

Sunday,  September  25.  North  Michigan  Conference.  At 
ten  o'clock  God  helped  me  once  more  in  telling  of  the  trans- 
figuration. Hope  it  was  not  in  vain.  At  three  o'clock 
preached  the  conference  sermon.     Guess  it  was  profitable. 

Sunday,  October  2.  Scioto  Conference.  Preached  at  ten 
o'clock  from  the  character  of  Daniel.  Had  unusual  freedom. 
God  helped,  and  the  word  seemed  to  take  effect. 

October  3.  At  ten  o'clock  I  talked  to  the  preachers,  with- 
out a  text,  about  one  hour.  Tliis  was  a  pleasant  conference 
throughout.     Peace  and  friendship  among  the  brethren. 

Bishop  Edwards  had  now  attended  all  the  con- 
ferences of  his  own  district,  except  two,  for  the 
current  quadrennial  term.     The  following  resolu- 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP  EDWARDS.  221 

tions,  adopted  by  Indiana  and  "White  River  con- 
ferences, in  joint  session,  fairly  indicate  the  tone 
of  resolutions  passed  in  other  conferences  : 

Resolved,  1.  That  our  heart-felt  thanks  be  and  are  hereby 
tendered  to  Bishop  Edwards  for  the  able,  efficient,  and  im- 
partial manner  in  which  he  has  presided  in  our  sessions  for 
the  many  years  he  has  been  among  us  as  our  bishop. 

2.  As  a  preacher,  as  a  superintendent,  and  in  his  private 
walk  we  esteem  him  an  example  in  piety,  in  faithfulness, 
and  in  efficiency. 

3.  We  could  have  desired  no  one  in  preference  to  him; 
and  if  he  should  be  returned  to  us  again  as  our  president, 
we  will  greet  him  with  words  of  welcome  and  with  hearts  of 
love  and  gladness. 

At  "White  River  Conference  he  had  now  pre- 
sided for  fifteen  consecutive  sessions,  having  been 
absent  the  first  session  through  an  exchange  made 
with  Bishop  Glossbrenner. 

Bishop  Edwards  attended,  in  October,  Muskin- 
gum, Western  Reserve,  and  Erie  conferences,  in 
Bishop  Glossbrenner's  district. 

In  December  he  went  to  Canada,  to  dedicate 
a  church,  and  remained  there  two  weeks, — a  time 
well  occupied  and  highly  enjoyed.  "When  he  de- 
sired to  return  across  the  border  he  found  unex- 
pected difiiculties,  because  of  some  features  of  the 
passport  system.  As  he  had  been  born  on  British 
soil,  the  law  required  the  presentation  of  hia 
father's   naturalization  papers,  which  of  course 


222  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

could  not  be  commanded.  Even  then  the  pass- 
port would  cost  seven  dollars.  But  listen  to  his 
own  account  of  the  case: 

"Here  was  a  trial  of  faith.  I  must  get  over 
in  a  clandestine  manner,  or  remain  and  send  to 
Washington  for  a  pass,  and  thus  miss  my  appoint- 
ments. I  had  lately  been  preaching  to  others  on 
trusting  Providence,  who  makes  all  things  to 
work  together  for  good.  But  what  good  could 
come  out  of  this?  This  I  could  not  see.  Yet  it 
must  be  true;  and  I  resolved  to  hold  on  to  my 
faith.  I  concluded  to  take  the  day  to  decide  my 
course.  At  noon  the  kind-hearted  consul  sent 
me  word  by  one  of  his  clerks  that  if  I  would  be 
at  his  office  at  5:00  p.  m.,  he  would  go  with 'me  to 
the  other  side  and  try  to  prevail  on  the  custom- 
house officers  to  let  me  pass  without  a  passport, 
and  thus  save  the  law,  himself,  and  me  too.  The 
plan  succeeded.  Faith  triumphed,  and  the  prom- 
ise was  again  verified." 

In  March,  1865,  he  attended  his  last  annual 
conferences — Missouri  and  Kansas — before  the 
General  Conference. 

While  many  of  the  interests  of  the  Church  had 
been  advanced  during  the  quadrennial  term,  there 
had  been  an  actual  loss  in  members  of  over  four 
thousand.  The  Church  was  patriotic  in  the  high- 
est degree.     In  some  conferences  the  feeling  for 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  223 

the  Union  was  snch  that  to  be  a  Democrat  was 
to  be  regarded  with  suspicion,  or  pressed  out  of 
the  Churcli;  while  to  be  a  secessionist  was  to 
receive  no  quarter.  Add  the  losses  from  tliese 
causes  to  the  ordinary  loss  from  the  desolating 
and  demoralizing  effects  of  war,  and  the  wonder 
is  that  the  loss  was  not  greater.  In  more  auspi- 
cious times  the  providential  mission  of  the  Church 
will  again  be  attested  by  thousands  converted 
and  added  to  its  communion. 

A  few  incidents,  and  this  chapter  will  be 
brought  to  a  close. 

Several  members  of  one  of  the  conferences  had 
joined  some  of  the  minor  secret  societies.  Bishop 
Edwards  had  labored  with  them,  but  without 
much  apparent  success.  One  Sabbath,  in  the 
midst  of  his  sermon,  he  spoke  of  the  nature  and 
influence  of  these  societies;  and  after  a  solemn 
admonition  he  said,  "  Some  of  you,  brethren,  will 
be  sure  to  be  like  a  man  who  has  passed,  on  a 
very  dark  night,  through  a  filthy  yard.  You  will 
find  something  very  unpleasant  sticking  to  you." 

In  his  illustrations  he  was  not  always  the  most 
choice;  but  those  who  had  their  minds  on  the 
justness  and  force  of  his  characterizations  and 
the  need  of  something  telling,  could  easily  recon- 
cile themselves  to  his  most  daring  presentations. 
He  never  gratuitously  ofiended  the  taste  of  the 
most  delicate. 


224  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

In  a  certain  conference  a  minister  wlio  had 
made  great  trouble  was  on  trial.  A  visiting  min- 
ister was  interposing  pretty  freely  by  his  frequent 
speeches  to  save  the  man  from  expulsion.  Bishop 
Edwards,  whose  feelings  were  always  too  surely 
and  strongly  enlisted  to  make  it  easy  for  him  to 
keep  from  manifesting  them  before  his  confer- 
ences, began  to  show  signs  of  his  displeasure  in 
the  drawing  of  his  face  and  his  peculiar  whistling 
throufi-h  his  teeth.  The  officious  brother  noticed 
these  evident  signs  of  his  displeasure,  but  did  not 
desist  from  his  offensive  course.  Finally  the 
bishop  wrote  a  note  to  the  officious  visitor  in  sub- 
stantially the  following  terms :  "  You  are  always 
defending  mean  men,  and  this  half  makes  me 
think  you  are  not  +he  right  kind  of  a  man  your- 
self. Now,  if  you  don't  desist  I  will  expose  you." 
This  had  the  desired  effect. 

^  In  speaking  of  the  use  of  tobacco  he  could  but 
poorly  conceal  the  disgust  he  felt.  More  than 
once  in  dedicating  churches  he  told  those  who 
were  addicted  to  this  filthy  habit,  to  take  their 
tobacco  out  of  their  mouths  before  entering  God's 
house,  and  lay  it  by  the  fence  or  by  the  side  of 
the  house.  "  But,"  said  he,  "  it  don't  matter 
where  you  put  it,  for  I  can  assure  you  that 
neither  the  hogs  nor  the  dogs  will  carry  it  off." 

Examples  of  the  bishop's  faith  occur  on  every 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  225 

hand.  The  confidence  with  which  he  presents 
even  his  least  and  most  secular  wants  to  God,  to 
many  would  seem  like  presumption,  almost  like 
trifling  with  God.  But  child-like  faith  is  not 
presumption,  and  can  never  displease  God. 

He  had  been  asked  to  dedicate  a  church.  He 
got  off  the  train  at  the  place  where  the  dedi- 
cation was  to  occur,  at  midnight,  and  found  no 
one  to  conduct  him  to  a  stopping-place.  It  was 
very  cold  winter  weather.  The  station-house  was 
closed,  and  no  lights  were  to  be  seen  in  the 
town.  He  felt  that  he  must  do  something.  He 
knew  not  what  to  do.  But  he  knew  that  there 
was  one  who  did  know,  and  so,  lifting  his  eyes, 
he  asked  the  Lord  to  direct  him,  and  started  up 
through  the  town.  He  caroe  to  a  house  that 
looked  to  him  as  though  a  United  Brethren 
might  live  in  it — he  afterward  remarked  that  it 
needed  a  coat  of  paint.  He  walked  up  to  the 
door  and  knocked,  and  in  a  moment  an  upper 
window  was  lifted,  and  a  voice  called  out,  "Bishop 
Edwards,  just  wait  and  I'll  come  down  and  let 
you  in." 

One  of  the  sessions  of  the  Illinois  Conference 
was  to  be  held  twenty  or  twenty-five  miles  away 
from  the  railroad,  and  it  was  necessary  for  him  to 
procure  a  horse  and  buggy  in  order  to  reach  the 
conference.    After  going  about  ten  miles  he  came 

15 


226  LIFE   OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

to  a  place  where  the  road  divided.  The  tracks 
before  him  were  equally  clear,  or,  rather,  equally 
dim.  Ho  was  in  the  midst  of  a  vast  prairie,  aud 
there  was  no  house  at  which  to  inquire.  He  had 
no  time  to  lose,  and  if  he  should  take  the  wrong 
road  it  would  throw  him  late  at  his  conference. 
"But,"  thought  he,  "the  Lord  is  here,  and  he 
knows  what  I  do  not.  I'll  trust  him."  He  drove 
the  horse  to  the  place  where  the  roads  parted  and 
stopped  him.  He  then  dropped  the  lines  and 
started  the  horse.  He  reached  the  conference 
without  further  trouble,  and  in  time. 

At  one  time  the  bishop  had  an  appointment  to 
dedicate  a  church  the  approaching  Sabbath,  but 
was  unable  to  get  to  the  station  at  which  he  de- 
sired to  take  the  train,  before  Saturday  evening. 
On  arriving  at  the  depot  he  was  informed  that 
the  evening  train  did  not  stop  at  that  place.  The 
agent  also  said  that  he  was  not  allowed  to  stop 
the  train.  He  knew  that  if  he  reached  his  ap- 
pointment he  would  have  to  take  that  train, 
which  would  be  along  in  less  than  an  hour.  God 
had  helped  him  at  other  times.  So  he  went  away 
into  the  dark,  and  bowed  down  and  asked  God 
that  he  would  move  upon  the  men  in  charge  to 
stop  the  train  if  it  was  his  will  that  he  should 
reach  his  appointment.  Sure  enough;  the  com- 
ing train  stopped  at  the  platform  without  being 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  227 

signaled.  The  engineer  on  being  questioned  said 
that  he  did  not  know  why  he  stopped,  but  that  it 
seemed  to  him  that  he  could  not  pass  without 
stopping. 

Bishop  Edwards  was  accustomed  to  narrate 
these  incidents  in  his  preaching,  as  a  means  of 
stimulating  the  faith  of  others.  They  certainly 
indicated  the  nature  and  strength  of  his  own 
faith. 


^*  CHAPTER  X. 

Fourteenth  General  Conference  —  The  Conferences — Assists 
Bishop  Markwood— Telescope  Articles — Incidents — Char- 
acter as  a  Preacher — Sernion  Sketches  —  Kemarks. 

^HE  fourteenth  General  Conference  met  at 


Western,  Iowa,  May  11,  1865.  As  the 
preceding  General  Conference  met  at  the 
yx  beginning  of  the  civil  war,  so  the  present 
General  Conference  met  at  the  close  of  that 
great  struggle.  Rebellion  had  gone  down  in  a  sea 
of  blood,  and  the  way  of  empire  was  again  open  to 
the  great  Republic,  The  results  of  the  war  gave 
the  highest  satisfaction  to  the  members  of  the  con- 
ference and  the  Church.  On  the  fourth  day  of  the 
session,  a  paper  containing  the  official  news  of 
the  capture  of  Jeflerson  Davis  was  laid  on  the 
bishop's  table.  Bishop  Edwards,  after  glancing 
over  the  paper,  arose  and  remarked  that  the 
paper  in  his  hand  contained  important  intelli- 
gence, which  he  would  be  pleased  to  communi- 
cate. He  then  read  the  dispatch,  amidst  the 
greatest  applause.      The   conference   then   arose 

and  sung  the  doxology. 

228 


LIFE   OF  BISHOP   EDWARDS.  229 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  the  General  Con- 
ference elections  and  sessions  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church  synchronize  very  closely  with 
the  quadrennial  election  and  installation  of  the 
president  of  the  United  States.  The  feeling  of 
the  conference  was  indicated  by  a  vote  as  to  the 
obligation  of  giving  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  the 
land  an  equal  position  before  the  law,  and  of 
giving  to  colored  citizens  the  elective  franchise. 
All  enthusiastically  supported  the  proposition, 
with  the  exception  of  five,  who  refused  to  vote. 
Of  course.  Bishop  Edwards  was  not  one  of  the 
five. 

This  conference  fixed  the  salary  of  a  bishop  at 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

The  subject  of  ministerial  education  was  here 
for  the  first  time  considered  with  any  favor  by  a 
General  Conference.  The  difi^'erence  between  edu- 
cation for  the  office  of  the  ministry  and  a  colle- 
giate training  is  not  allowed  to-day  to  work  any 
disparagement  to  the  former.  Indeed,  it  seems 
hardly  possible  that  the  idea  of  raising  up  and 
qualifying  laborers  for  the  Master's  vineyard 
was  not  always  the  first  and  most  prominent 
purpose  of  education  by  the  Church.  The  most 
that  the  conference  of  1865  was  willing  to  in- 
dorse was  to  favor  the  formation  of  classes,  in 
the  literary   institutions  of  the  Church,  for  the 


230  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

Btudy  of  the  books  prescribed  in  the  reading- 
course.  The  slowness  of  the  Church  to  favor 
theological  education,  but  nevertheless  the  fact 
of  a  somewhat  changed  sentiment  on  this  subject, 
was  indicated  by  the  following  remarks  of  Bishop 
Edwards : 

"  We  are  all  aiming  at  the  same  thing.  Per- 
haps our  opposition  to  theological  schools  orig- 
inated from  superstition.  Our  ministers  should 
be  educated.  We  should  do  something  to  prevent 
the  evils  we  fear.  We  have  no  theological  insti- 
tution as  yet;  and  now,  while  we  have  them  not, 
let  us  adopt  a  plan  which  will  give  us  the  thing 
we  want,  without  the  evils  which  we  apprehend. 
The  best  plan  will  be  to  give  the  young  men  who 
are  to  become  ministers,  along  with  their  college- 
course,  the  training  in  theological  studies  which 
they  need." 

At  the  close  of  the  session  Bishop  Edwards 
made  the  following  happy  and  significant  address: 

"  The  history  of  this  General  Conference  is  the 
history  of  the  triumph  of  Christian  principle. 
Not  less  than  one  hundred  persons  of  different 
nationalities  and  different  temperaments,  and  dif- 
ferent opinions,  in  many  respects,  have  been 
together  for  twelve  days,  discussing  and  deciding 
upon  exciting  questions;  and  not  one  angry  word 
has  been   spoken,   not   one   unkind   feeling  haa 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  231 

been  exhibited.  I  do  believe  that  the  ministers 
of  this  church  were  never  more  closely  bound 
together  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  charity  than 
at  the  present  time.  But  there  may  be  breakers 
ahead,  which  may  be  to  us  a  source  of  danger. 
The  present  is,  in  some  respects,  a  critical  period. 
It  is  a  period  of  transition,  an  age  of  progress  in 
the  political,  civil,  and  social  world.  And  the 
spirit  of  the  times  affects,  in  no  small  degree,  the 
Church.  "We  are  constantly  in  danger  of  agitat- 
ing to  our  injury.  The  counsels  of  these  old 
men  are  not  to  be  despised." 

He  was  re-elected  bishop.  His  associates  in 
this  high  and  responsible  office  were  J.  J.  Gloss- 
brenner,  J.  Markwood,  J.  Weaver,  and  D.  Shuck. 
He  was  also  continued  vice-president  of  the 
missionary  society.  The  district  assigned  him, 
denominated  the  Ohio  District,  embraced  the 
following  named  conferences:  Scioto,  Auglaize, 
Michigan,  Indiana,  Miami,  Ohio  German,  and 
Muskingum.  The  new  conferences  formed  during 
this  session  were  Cascade  and  Central  Illinois. 
The  Indiana  German  and  Massachusetts  were 
discontinued.  During  the  coming  quadrennial 
term  Tennessee  Mission-conference  was  organized 
by  Bishop  Glossbrenner,  and  Kentucky  by  Bishop 
Edwards.  During  the  term.  Bishop  Edwards 
continued  to  reside  at  West  Sonora. 


232  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

Besides  attending  all  tlie  conferences  of  his 
own  district,  Bishop  Edwards  attended  the  first 
two  sessions  of  Kansas  and  Missouri  conferences, 
Bishop  Markwood  being  sick.  He  was  also  given, 
by  Bishop  Markwood,  in  January,  1867,  eccle- 
siastical charge  of  the  West  Mississippi  District, 
until  the  health  of  the  latter  would  be  so  far 
restored  as  to  enable  him  to  attend  to  his  dis- 
trict. This  led  Bishop  Edwards  to  make  some 
extra  visits  to  the  West,  —  mainly  for  the  pur- 
pose of  dedicating  churches.  He  also,  for  a  time, 
in  a  general  way,  attended  to  the  wants  of  the 
district. 

In  May,  1865,  he  assisted  in  the  dedication  of  a 
building  for  "Westfield  College.  The  college  at 
that  time  had  been  in  operation  four  years.  Dur- 
ing this  term,  he  was  also  called  to  dedicate  some 
churches  in  Illinois.  At  that  time  the  bishops  in 
attending  dedications  received  no  extra  remunera- 
tion; and,  generally,  they  had  to  pay  their  own 
traveling  expenses.  In  his  own  district  Bishop 
Edwards  attended  many  dedications,  and  by  gen- 
eral oversight  and  special  personal  effort  pro- 
moted the  work  of  the  Church. 

In  September,  1866,  a  little  over  one  year  after 
the  General  Conference,  four  contributing  editors 
were  appointed  to  assist  upon  the  Religious  Tele- 
scope, of  whom  Bishop  Edwards  was  one.     Rev. 


LITE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  233 

D.  Berger  was  the  editor.  Under  this  arrange- 
ment Bishop  Edwards  furnished  numerous  articles 
on  current  topics  of  minor  importance,  as  well  as 
some  of  more  permanent  value. 

During  this  term  the  Church  was  much  agi- 
tated on  the  question  of  the  use  of  instrumental 
music  in  worship.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  pre- 
ceding quadrennial  term,  while  Bishop  Edwards 
resided  in  Dayton,  an  organ  was  introduced  into 
the  Sabbath  -  school  of  the  First  Church.  The 
bishop  entered  his  earnest  protest  at  once.  And 
during  the  last  part  of  the  same  term  the  congre- 
gation at  "Westerville  commenced  using  an  organ 
in  regular  worship.  In  Otterbein  University, 
also,  in  connection  with  the  chapel  services,  the 
organ  was  used.  This  gave  the  bishop,  and  many 
others,  no  little  uneasiness  and  dissatisfaction. 
Emphatic  resolutions  against  this  supposed  de- 
generacy of  the  university  were  passed  by  many 
of  the  co-operating  conferences.  The  General 
Conference  of  1865  enacted  a  rule  prohibiting 
the  use  of  instrumental  music  in  public  worship. 
True,  this  was  a  favorite  measure  of  Bishop  Ed- 
wards; but  it  must  be  remembered  that  it  ex- 
pressed, very  generally,  the  sentiment  of  the 
Church  at  large.  It  was  believed  that  this  prohi- 
bition could  be  vindicated  as  both  righteous  and 
whobsome.    Before  1861  the  reading  of  sermons, 


23-4  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

the  use  of  choirs,  aud  musical  instruments,  or, 
indeed,  anything  else  supposed  to  hinder  the  sim- 
plicity and  spirituality  of  religious  worship,  found 
no  place  in  the  Church.  The  original  impulse  and 
conviction  of  duty  leading  away  from  formality 
and  lifelessness  in  worship,  which  characterized 
the  founders  of  the  Church,  still  continued  to 
be  so  strong  that  no  elements  of  contention  had 
thus  far  disturbed  from  within.  Hence  no  one 
can  wonder  that  it  was  difhcult  for  those  who 
were  accustomed  to  this  simplicity  in  worship 
to  turn  away  to  something  different.  In  fact, 
it  could  not  be  done  without  wounding  the  feel- 
ings of  a  large  number  of  ministers  and  laymen 
of  the  Church.  So  these  changes  and  innovations 
were  vigorously  resisted  by  Bishop  Edwards. 
Though  he  believed  in  legislative  authority  in 
order  to  prevent  the  evils  feared,  he  did  not 
depend  wholly  on  this.  In  reference  to  the  music- 
question  he  wrote  two  quite  elaborate  articles, 
which  appeared  in  the  Religious  Telescope.  He 
showed  that  the  fathers  and  reformers  of  the 
Church  were  with  him  in  opposition  to  instru- 
mental music  in  public  w^orship,  or  at  least  were 
opposed  to  the  form  in  w^hich  it  existed  in  their 
day.  His  argument  was  clear  and  strong.  To 
these  articles  Prof.  S.  B.  Allen  made  a  very  can- 
did and  able  reply.     Bishop  Edwards  wrote  one 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS.  235 

more  article,  in  which  the  followiEg  beautiful  ex- 
pression occurred:  "None  of  us  have  any  inter- 
est in  being  wrong.  If  our  views  can  not  beai 
the  light  of  discussion  we  ought  to  give  them  up. 
If  I  can  be  convinced  that  God  would  be  glori- 
fied and  souls  saved  by  the  use  of  instruments  in 
our  worship,  I  will  cease  my  opposition.  But  so 
long  as  I  see  in  the  organ  an  instrument  of  formal- 
ism, so  long  I  must  vote  against  it.  This  is  not 
a  discussion  between  Brother  Allen  and  myself. 
We  are  good  friends,  and  both  want  to  be  guided 
by  truth;  and  I  think  we  shall  get  to  heaven  by 
and  by,  when  we  shall  understand  what  the 
'harp  of  God'  means  better  than  we  do  now.'' 
Two  additional  articles  from  Prof.  Allen  closed 
the  discussion.  But  it  was  not  long  until  the  dis- 
turbing organ  was  reported  as  removed  from  all 
United  Brethren  houses  of  worship.  The  dispo- 
sition to  use  the  organ,  however,  could  not  be 
kept  in  check,  and  gradually  the  opposition 
became  less. 

January  1,  1868,  there  appeared  an  article  in 
the  Religious  Telescope  from  the  pen  of  Prof.  H. 
Garst,  in  reply  to  a  remark  in  a  previous  editorial 
contribution  by  Bishop  Edwards,  on  the  subject 
of  secret  societies.  Prof.  Garst  urged  objections 
to  the  restrictive  rule  of  the  church  Discipline 
on  this  question.     "While  not  the  first  to  call  in 


236  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

question  the  soundness  of  said  rule,  he  was  yet 
the  first  to  bring  modification  views  prominently 
before  the  Church.  Following  the  article  already 
referred  to,  Bishop  Edwards  and  Prof.  Garst  each 
wrote  two  additional  articles.  The  merits  of  the 
question  were  little  entered  into.  Prof.  Garst 
made  the  declaration  that  in  social  and  church 
circles  Bishop  Edwards  had  used  expressions  in- 
dicating that  he  was  himself  receding  from  the 
disciplinary  rule.  To  this  the  bishop  made  his 
reply,  in  which  he  denied  the  charge  most  em- 
phatically, and  the  discussion  did  not  reach  much 
beyond  this  point.  But  who  will  question  his 
fidelity  to  the  principles  of  the  church  of  his 
choice,  or  suppose  it  possible  for  him  to  ofier  a 
truce  with  secrecy?  In  his  last  article  he  said: 
"  So  long  as  we  believe  the  principle  of  the  rule 
right,  we  will  neither  be  alarmed  nor  intimidated 
by  the  charge  of  inconsistency.  I  say  the  princi- 
ple of  the  rule,  because  I  will  not  be  tenacious  as 
to  the  form,  if  it  can  be  shown  that  we  can  more 
eftectually  execute  the  law  and  keep  the  Church 
free  from  connection  with  secret  combinations  by 
a  dift'erent  wording  of  the  rule.  But  I  more  than 
Buspect  that  the  thing  objected  to  is  not  the  form 
of  the  rule,  but  the  test  of  membership  itself." 
Bishops  Glossbrenner,  Edwards,  and  Weaver  had 
previously,  in  an  address  to  the  Church,  insisted 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  237 

on  the  observance  of  the  rule.  Bishop  Edwards 
showed  his  earnest  opposition  to  secrecy,  wherever 
found,  by  his  presence  at  the  National  Anti- Se- 
crecy Convention,  which  met  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa., 
in  May,  1868.  He  was  elected  president  of  this 
convention.  President  Fairchild,  of  Oberlin  Col- 
lege, delivered  before  the  convention  an  able 
address.  Some  of  the  noblest  men  of  the  country 
came  a  long  distance  to  take  part  in  the  conven- 
tion. A  letter  from  Hon.  Henry  Wilson,  expres- 
sive of  his  sympathy,  along  with  many  other 
similar  letters,  was  read.  The  influence  of  the 
convention,  in  reference  to  the  evils  of  secretism, 
was  large  and  decided. 

ISTone  of  the  territory  traveled  over  by  Bishop 
Edwards  during  the  present  term  was  entirely 
new  to  him.  The  establishment  for  the  second 
time  of  the  Kentucky  Conference,  however,  was 
almost  of  the  character  of  a  new  work.  In  1867, 
when  he  visited  Kentucky,  the  country  was  filled 
with  marauders.  The  morning  on  which  the 
conference  closed,  quite  a  remarkable  scene  was 
presented.  A  large  company  of  people,  many  of 
them  the  bitterest  foes  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  on  account  of  its  antislavery  sentiments, 
were  present.  Bishop  Edwards  read  the  report 
of  the  stationing  committee,  and  asked  all  to  join 
with  him  in  prayer.    He  prayed  for  the  preachers 


238  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

that  would  go  out,  then  for  the  people  to  whom 
they  would  go,  and  then  for  their  enemies,  so 
many  of  whom  were  present.  The  Lord  was  es- 
pecially near  by  the  influence  of  his  Spirit.  Dur- 
ing the  prayer  an  awful  solemnity  prevailed.  The 
ministers  present  cherished  the  recollection  of 
that  prayer  as  among  their  most  solemn  and  hal- 
lowed memories.  The  visit  of  the  next  year  was 
attended  with  increased  danger;  but  Bishop  Ed- 
wards rebuked  the  spirit  that  would  secure  his 
safety  by  carnal  weapons.  A  number  of  young 
ministers  came  into  the  Kentucky  Conference 
during  the  year,  and  the  outlook  for  the  future 
became  more  encouraging. 

/  "While  attending  one  of  the  sessions  of  the 
^Missouri  Conference  he  asked  a  brother  to  lead  in 
prayer.  The  brother  kept  on  telling  the  Lord 
how  good  and  great  he  was;  and  at  last  the 
bishop  called  out,  "Brother,  ask  the  Lord  for 
something."  "  Lord,  bless  our  bishop,"  said  the 
brother.  "Amen,  amen;  that  is  better;  go  on," 
shouted  the  bishop.  It  was  a  good  lesson  to  the 
brother,  as  well  as  to  others.  He  felt  that  prayer 
should  be  prayer  indeed;  that  every  petition 
should  be  prompted  by  a  present  sense  of  want, 
and  presented  and  urged  by  a  living  faith.  He 
regarded  formality  in  prayer  as  the  result  of  a 
lifeless  state  of  religion,  and  as  being  a  proper 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  239 

subject  of  criticism.  His  own  prayers  were  a 
marvel  of  suitability  to  the  occasion,  of  compre- 
hensive and  child-like  simplicity  of  faith. 

Until  1873  he  was  opposed  to  the  wearing  of 
beards;  and  of  course  he  himself  shaved  clean. 
But  after  the  date  given,  his  scruples  were  so  far 
overcome  that  he  himself  wore  a  full-grown  and 
very  becoming  beard.  His  opposition  to  mus- 
taches, however,  was  the  same  from  first  to  last. 
In  a  sermon  at  the  Kansas  Conference  he  said, 
"  There  is  one  thing  that  many  of  you  dare  not 
say,  but  I  will  say  it:  It  is  unbecoming  for  minis- 
ters to  wear  mustaches;  it  is  bad  enough  for 
them  to  wear  a  long  beard." 

A  rare  instance  of  resolution  and  earnestness  ia 
furnished  in  the  fact  that  Bishop  Edwards,  after 
he  was  fifty  years  old,  took  up  and  carried  for- 
ward successfully  the  study  of  the  German  lan- 
guage. The  occasion  of  this  was  his  relation  to 
the  Ohio  German  Conference.  At  one  session  of 
this  conference  he  told  the  brethren  that  he  would 
read  some  verses  in  the  German  Testament  every 
day  during  the  succeeding  year.  The  next  session 
he  could  read  German  to  the  conference,  espe- 
cially using  it  in  the  ordination  service.  This  was 
highly  appreciated  by  the  German  brethren.  By 
them  he  was  venerated  as  a  father. 

At  the  Scioto  Conference  sessions  of  1865  and 


240  LIFE    OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

1866  his  sermons  were  examples  of  great  power 
and  acceptability.  At  the  session  of  1866,  while 
speaking  of  a  ministry  called  and  owned  of 
God,  and  accompanied  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  his 
own  countenance  was  almost  transfigured,  and  an 
indescribable  awe  fell  upon  his  hearers.  Always, 
in  his  highest  state  of  spiritual  emotion,  his  lips 
became  compressed,  his  countenance  unusually 
pale,  and  his  voice  tremulous  and  burdened  with 
emotion,  in  its  very  nature  unutterable.  The 
effect  of  his  preaching  at  such  times  no  tongue 
nor  pen  can  describe.  All  seemed  to  feel  that  the 
message  was  direct  and  fresh  from  heaven. 

An  example  of  the  bishop's  happy  faculty  of 
saving  himself  from  going  too  far,  or  extricating 
himself  from  any  difficulty,  is  afforded  in  the 
following:  He  was  speaking  in  a  town,  and 
his  subject  led  him  to  speak  of  the  virtues 
of  country  people.  He  spoke  of  the  honest 
farmer  and  his  good  wife,  etc.,  etc.  The  worst 
feature  was  the  apparent  disparagement  of  the 
towns-people.  His  hearers  became  nervous,  glanc- 
ing around  at  each  other;  and  all  felt  that  the 
bishop  was  blundering.  He  at  once  perceived  the 
situation,  though  he,  perhaps,  understood  his 
part  from  the  beginning,  and  concluded  that  part 
of  his  subject  with  the  sentence,  "  I  know  that 
you   are  towns-people,  but  all  of  your  parents 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP  ^DWARDS.  241 

came  from  the  country."  From  that  moment  the 
people  were  contented  to  let  him  lead. 

At  one  time,  after  going  home  from  church 
after  evening  services,  the  minister  in  charge  of 
the  vrork  at  tha.t  place  remarked  that,  as  they 
had  all  been  at  meeting,  they  would  omit  family 
worship.  Said  the  bishop,  "It  wont  take  long  to 
pray,"  and  asked  the  minister  to  lead  in  prayer. 

The  point  of  time  at  which  we  have  now  ar- 
rived seems  most  favorable  for  the  introduction 
of  something  more  explicit  in  reference  to  Bishop 
Edwards  as  a  preacher.  We  have  already  wit- 
nessed the  way  in  which  the  solemn  depth  and 
rare  loftiness  of  his  spirit  were  secured  and  main- 
tained. Thus  we  see  the  ground,  unvarying  ex- 
cept by  constant  renewal,  of  his  success  as  a 
preacher.  A  marked  solitariness  with  God,  a 
vital  communion  with  Christ,  a  thorough  de- 
pendence upon  the  Holy  Spirit,  a  mind  and  heart 
completely  yielding  to  the  authority  of  the 
Scriptures,  were  some  of  the  elements  of  his 
power.  These  were  either  manifest  in  the  ma- 
terials that  were  brought  forward  or  were  felt  as 
a  reserve-force,  giving  to  his  words  more  than  an 
earthly  significance. 

For  his  preparation  he  mainly  depended  on 
the  stores  with  which  he  kept  his  mind  stocked, 
and  the  light  and  quickening  which  came  from 


242  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

recent  experience  and  immediate  surroundings. 
llis  mind,  without  being  especially  urged  to  it, 
gathered  thoughts  and  facts  wherever  and  when- 
ever presented,  and  assimilated  and  appropriated 
them  in  a  convenient  way  for  public  use.  His 
constant  study  of  the  Scriptures  and  diligent 
reading  of  the  purest  literature,  together  with 
his  genius  for  moral  ideas,  gave  to  his  preach- 
ing great  simplicity,  variety,  appropriateness  and 
power.  Thus  equipped,  he  never  had  to  find 
something  to  say,  or  to  labor  in  constructing  ser- 
mons; he  found  them,  or  rather  grew  them.  He 
believed  in  truth  as  something  real,  having  its 
own  character,  branches,  and  outlines  lying  like 
a  continent  above  the  ocean  ot  uncertainty  and 
doubt.  He  believed  that  truth  was  accessible 
and  unchanging,  and  that  it  should  be  treasured 
for  its  own  sake.  Truth  was  to  be  the  instru- 
ment of  his  ministry;  and  this  love  for  it  made 
his  life-work  more  joyous  as  well  as  more  effect- 
ive. But  he  sympathized  with  men,  and  felt  that 
his  mission  was  to  employ  truth  for  their  sake. 
Thus  the  workings  of  his  mind,  the  throbbing  of 
his  heart,  his  daily  life,  his  occupation  witliin  and 
without  the  pulpit,  were  all  severally  a  part  of 
one  great  thought  and  work.  With  this  general, 
or  rather  special,  qualification  he  combined  very 
careful,  almost  agonizing,  preparation  before  at- 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  243 

tempting  to  preacli  at  any  particular  time.  He 
wished,  under  the  influence  of  the  occasion,  to 
gather  up  his  subject  and  secure  a  present  living 
connection  between  every  part  of  it  and  his  mind 
and  heart.  He  thus  preserved  the  conditions  of 
unity,  and  of  an  all-permeating  life.  So  if  a 
sermon  is  the  truth  of  God  incarnated,  and 
brought  before  the  people,  in  a  living  man, 
then  Bishop  Edwards  filled  the  requirements  of 
a  great  preacher. 

His  public  prayers  before  entering  upon  his 
sermon  are  worthy  of  note  in  this  connection;  for 
without  them  the  impression  of  his  sermon  could 
scarcely  at  any  time  have  been  complete.  He 
not  unfrequently  removed  the  greatest  obstacles 
out  of  the  way,  and  even  obtained  substantial 
victory  for  truth,  often  the  conquest  and  conver- 
sion of  souls,  in  an  opening  prayer.  He  was  at 
home  in  prayer.  His  prayers  were  as  well  suited 
to  the  occasion  as  were  his  sermons.  Sometimes 
in  his  prayers  he  seemed  to  translate  his  hearers 
into  the  awful  hush  of  God's  presence  and  the 
solemn  scenes  of  fixed  eternity.  A  marked  char- 
acteristic of  his  praying  was  its  scriptural  tone 
and  expression.  This  none  who  heard  him  could 
fail  to  notice.  His  familiarity  with  the  inspired 
language  of  prophets  and  apostles  gave  to  his 
diction  peculiar  warmth  and  liveliness.     The  Ian- 


244  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

guage  of  Canaan  befitted  well  his  lips.  Many  of 
his  sermons  were  based  upon  some  Old  Testament 
event  or  New  Testament  incident.  His  strong 
imagination,  guided  and  controlled  by  rare  tact, 
and  his  happy  talent  for  description,  usually  gave 
to  such  sermons  indescribable  charm  and  power. 

But  he  was,  also,  a  thoroughly  systematic 
preacher.  He  was  always  clear  and  logical.  His 
positions  were  taken  advantageously,  and  his 
propositions  rarely  came  short  of  the  mark  or 
failed  of  acceptance.  He  usually  closed  his  ser- 
mons with  "remarks,"  or  a  practical  improve- 
ment. In  his  sermon  he  had  not  built  up  an 
artificial  efifect  which  would  collapse  or  vanish 
while  he  made  applications  to  the  common  cir- 
cumstances of  men.  He  spoke  largely  from  his 
own  experience  to  the  awakened  consciousness 
of  his  hearers.  He  asserted,  rather  than  argued. 
If  his  hearers  did  not  believe  him,  so  much  the 
worse  for  them.  His  sermons  and  public  ad- 
dresses, however,  were  never  loose  or  disjointed. 
They  were,  in  fact,  tough  and  compact.  Hence, 
every  one  of  his  sentences  was  telling,  and  every 
one  of  his  sermons  was  easily  remembered.  He 
did  not  withhold  propositions  in  the  beginning 
from  fear  that  there  would  be  nothing  left  to 
state  afterward.  He  was  a  remarkable  exam- 
ple of  a  practical  preacher.    He  possessed  the 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  245 

uncommon  power  of  investing  every-day  truth 
witli  unwonted  charm  and  effectiveness.  It  was 
largely  owing  to  his  skill  in  this  respect  that  he 
80  often  moved  the  slumbering  susceptibilities  of 
the  heart.  Thus  it  was  that  he  used  definite 
truth  for  definite  results.  While  he  would  often 
use  principles  for  inciting  action,  he  was  pre- 
eminently skillful  in  presenting  motives  equally 
strong  from  facts  drawn  either  from  the  present 
or  past. 

Bishop  Edwards  had  great  skill  in  the  use  of 
illustrations  drawn  from  common  life.  Illustra- 
tions, however,  were  never  used  by  him  for  their 
own  sake.  His  own  soul  had  a  profound  acquaint- 
ance with  human  life;  and  few  men  lived  day  by 
■day  nearer  the  center  where  all  hearts  are  one. 
On  his  lips  the  simplest  story  of  human  woe  or 
oonflict  often  melted  down  the  most  stubborn  of 
assemblies.  For  the  purpose  of  instruction  he 
•often  used  homely  illustrations,  but  never  without 
the  effect  of  increased  clearness  or  emphasis. 

But  the  feature  standing  next  to  the  direct  log- 
ical element  that  has  been  referred  to  was  the 
essentially  dramatic  power  of  his  preaching.  He 
preached  to  the  eyes  and  imaginations  of  men. 
He  pursued  so  natural  and  so  vivid  a  course  that 
other  minds  yielded  a  necessary  submission  to  his 
leadership.      Every   step   of   his   course   was   so 


246  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

simple  that  the  connection  of  his  mind  with  the 
minds  of  his  hearers  was  never  disturbed,  and 
the  spell  which  was  at  first  formed  remained 
unbroken  from  first  to  last.  On  one  occasion, 
when  speaking  in  a  grove,  he  seized  an  umbrella 
hanging  from  a  tree,  and  imitating  the  smiting 
of  the  Jordan  by  Elijah  he  exclaimed,  "Where ^ 
now  is  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah?"  Several  per- 
sons on  the  stand  instantly  rose  to  their  feet  and 
looked  over  to  see  the  waters  part.  At  another 
time  he  seized  a  cane  from  a  man  in  front  of  him, 
and  drawing  it  back  and  bringing  it  Forward 
toward  the  man,  he  illustrated,  by  the  dodging  of 
the  man  before  him,  how  Peter  must  have  aimed  , 
to  take  off  the  head  of  the  servant  of  the  highy^ 
priest,  but  only  took  off  his  right  ear. 

He  had  not  only  a  holy  veneration,  but  an  im- 
passioned soul,  for  what  he  called  the  "higher 
truths "  of  the  Christian  religion.  He  was  em- 
phatically the  preacher  to  lead  those  who  "hunger 
and  thirst  after  righteousness  "  to  a  higher  Chris- 
tian life.  The  pulpit  never  reproved  oftener  of 
sin,  nor  gave  forth  higher  and  nobler  ideas  of 
Christian  life,  than  when  it  rang  and  resounded 
with  his  divinely  electrified  voice. 

Along  with  these  characteristics  named,  the 
highly  evangelical  character  of  his  preaching 
ought  to  be  mentioned.     Aside  from  the  particu- 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  247 

lar  subject  whicli  be  preached,  there  was  made 
the  impression  of  his  sympathetic  acquaintance 
with  men  and  of  his  unhesitating  faith  as  to  the 
fullness  and  steadfastness  of  gospel  promises. 
Ilis  faith  unlocked  the  door  of  hope  to  many- 
hearts,  and  his  words  conveyed  a  heavenly  balm 
to  many  souls. 

It  seems  proper  here  to  give  the  reader  the 
advantage  of  the  sketches  of  some  of  his  sermons. 
Most  preachers  have  a  few  favorite  sermons,  while 
others  can  use  one  text  about  as  well  as  another. 
Bishop  Edwards  belonged  to  neither  of  these 
classes.  In  his  earlier  ministry  he  selected  his 
themes  from  a  wide  field,  but  in  later  times  the 
occasions  which  he  met  were  less  varied.  Hence 
he  felt  it  to  be  his  privilege,  and  duty  as  well,  to 
use  those  subjects  in  the  use  of  which  God's 
blessing  had  been  especially  bestowed.  The 
reason  why  some  preachers  can  not  repeat  a 
sermon  frequently  with  success  is,  in  some  cases, 
that  it  is  not  built  up  out  of  a  vital  or  funda- 
mental truth,  being  a  mere  conceit,  which  may 
collapse  at  any  time.  In  other  cases,  the  thouglit 
used  is  good  enough,  but  the  preacher  has  a  nat- 
ure that  is  not  as  susceptible  to  a  great  truth  as 
to  countless  little  accidents  which  can  not  a  second 
time  be  marshaled  to  the  same  theme.  Bishop 
Edwards  had  the  capacity  to  take  a  truth  right 


248  LIFE   OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

out  of  tlie  mine,  which  frequent  use  might  polish 
but  could  never  dim.  To  this  he  could  bring  his 
mind  again  and  again.  He  never  preached  a 
sermon  lazily  or  indifi'erentl}'.  His  thoughts 
never  appeared  to  be  dried  specimens.  He  wrote 
out  many  sketches  of  the  same  sermon,  and  gen- 
erally embraced  some  new  thought  or  made  some 
new  application  to  suit  the  case  in  hand.  His 
favorite  sermons  were  topical  and  historical.  He 
was  especially  gifted  in  the  latter.  Lessons  drawn 
from  sacred  history  and  biography  were  great 
features  in  his  preaching.  It  may  be  said  of  all 
his  sermons,  however,  that  they  had  a  practical 
aim.  Of  those  which  he  preached  throughout  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  Church,  the  sketches 
of  not  less  than  one  hundred  might  easily  be 
given.  Of  this  number  a  few  only  will  be  selected, 
and  given  as  specimens. 

THE   HATEFULNESS   OF   SIN. 
"Oh,  do  not  this  abominable  thing  that  I  hate."    (Jer.  xliv.  4.) 

I.  Sin  defined.  1.  Traiisgres>iion.  2.  To  know  to  do 
good  and  do  it  not.  3.  All  unrighteous.  4.  Inward  de- 
pravity. 

II.  Does  God  hate  sin?  1.  His  word  says  he  does.  2. 
His  treatment  of  Adam  and  Eve,  and  his  curse  upon  the 
earth.  3.  Sodom  and  Gomorrah.  4.  Tlie  history  of  the 
Jews — all  history,  in  fact,  proof  of  God's  hatred.  5.  Espe- 
cially the  suffering  of  Jesus  as  proof. 

III.  Why  does  he  hate  sin  ?     1.     It  is  hateful  in  itself, — 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  249 

loathsome,  detestable.  Some  things  so  in  nature.  2.  Dis- 
honors God.  3.  Dishonors  man  and  destroys  his  happiness. 
4.     Destroys  both  soul  and  body  in  hell. 

Application.  1.  Divine  solicitude  for  us.  Oh,  "do  it 
not."  God's  regard  for  us  benevolent,  earnest,  perpetual.  2. 
If  God  hates  sin,  so  should  we.  3.  We  should  be  a  standing 
rebuke  to  sin,  and  so  should  seek  to  save  our  fellow-men  from 
its  power. 

DRY   BONES. 
"Can  these  bones  live?"    (Ezekiel  xxxvii.  3.) 

I.  What  implied  by  the  bones.  1.  Former  life.  2. 
Present  death.  3.  A  helpless  state.  4.  May  refer  to  the 
human  family  in  the  fall.  5.  To  backsliders.  6.  To  the 
backslidden  condition  of  the  church. 

II.  The  means  of  recovery.  1.  The  Lord  began  by  lead- 
ing the  prophet  among  the  bones.  Direction  to  him.  "A 
hard  question."  Eeferred  back  to  God.  That  better  than 
to  have  given  a  negative  answer.  2.  The  instructions  to 
the  prophet — to  prophesy  on  the  house,  to  pray  for  the 
breath  of  life. 

III.  The  result.  1.  A  noise  and  a  shaking.  2.  A  com- 
ing together  of  the  bones.  3.  Sinews  and  flesh  covered 
with  skin.     4.     Filled  with  life  and  stood  up. 

Application.  1.  The  prophet  led  about,  not  for  himself, 
but  for  others.  2.  T^he  agency  to  be  employed  —  prevailing 
prayer.     Go  to  God,  and  let  theories  go  to  the  wind. 

THE  CHURCH  AND  THE  WORLD. 

Introduction.  Personal  remarks.  All  men  divided  into 
two  great  classes.  Where  the  line  between  them.  What 
fellowship  allowed,  and  what  forbidden. 

I.  Negatively.  1.  Necessary  commercial  relations.  (I. 
Cor.  V.  9,  10.;  I.  John  v.  19.)     2.     Good  citizenship.     Help 


250  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

to  secure  the  best  rulers.  Seek  the  peace  and  prosperity  of 
the  country  where  we  live.  3.  Good  neighborship.  Borrow 
and  lend,  visit  and  converse.  4.  Associate  for  the  express 
purpose  of  doing.  Illustrate.  Young  lady  of  the  ball.  Vis- 
iting the  afflicted,  etc.,  etc. 

II.  Affirmatively.  What  is  forbidden  ?  1.  Marriage  be- 
tween Christians  and  the  ungodly.  (I.  Cor.  vii.  29;  Deut. 
vii.  2,  3.)  2.  Secret  societies.  (Eph.  v.  11,  12.)  Example 
and  precept  of  Christ.  Nothing  hid.  In  secret  said  noth- 
ing. 3.  Partnership  in  business.  4.  Intimate  social  com- 
panionship. 

III.  Reasons  assigned.  1.  Inconsistent  with  the  nature 
of  the  parlies, — their  aims  in  life,  the  Master's  service,  their 
final  end.  2.  Incompatibility  of  sin  and  holiness,  truth 
and  error.  3.  The  utter  want  of  agreement  in  their  worship. 
4.  Union  between  sin  and  holiness,  God  and  Satan,  angela 
and  devils,  heaven  and  hell.  Can  not  hold  fellowship  to- 
gether. 

HOLINESS   OF   GOD's  HOUSE. 
"Holiness  becometh  thy  liouse  forever,"    (Psalms  xciii.  5.) 

I.  Explain  the  terms.  1.  ^otfse  is  a  place  of  residence; 
applied  to  the  temple  as  the  residence  of  God;  also  to  all 
houses  of  worship.  2.  The  human  body.  3.  The  church. 
4.    Every  believer. 

II.  Holiness.  1.  Not  external  conformity  to  the  letter 
of  law.  2.  Not  great  excitement  of  feeling.  Not  happiness. 
3.  A  right  state  of  heart  and  life.  The  word  is  from  the 
root  to  Ileal;  holiness  or  completeness  hence  implies  unre- 
served consecration,  deliverance  from  sin,  and  a  correspond- 
ing life  of  purity,  temperance,  and  truth. 

III.  The  doctrine  of  the  text.  1.  Holiness  a  necessity 
of  God's  house.  2.  Suitable  to  it— a  type  and  preparation, 
for  heaven. 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  251 

Remarks.  1.  Our  house  of  worship  should  be  well  built, 
— not  extravagant,  beyond  our  means,  nor  inconvenient.  2. 
Kept  clean  and  neat  and  orderly.  3.  So  should  the  church 
on  earth  be  as  pure  as  possible  in  this  probationary  world. 
Voluntary  sinners  should  be  kept  out  till  converted.  DifB- 
culty  in  dealing  with  that  class.  Apostles  had  their  difficul- 
ties. So  all  have.  Should  aim  to  be  ourselves  holy.  What 
is  a  church  for  if  there  is  no  difference  between  it  and  the 
world?  4  Yet  there  must  be  charity  and  patience.  We 
read  of  the  weak,  sickly  children,  babes.  The  church  like 
a  hospital,  a  school.  Bury  the  dead,  dismiss  the  unruly, 
bwi  feed  the  babes.  Care  for  the  sick.  And  traiu  all  for 
heaven,  the  glorious  temple  above. 

"open  wide  thy  mouth." 

L  What  implied.  1.  Not  physical.  Not  loud  nor  long 
prayers.  2.  A  figure  of  speech  implying  large  asking — 
blessings  great  and  many. 

II.  The  necessity  existing  for  such  asking.  1.  We  have 
great  guilt  to  be  forgiven.  2.  Great  moral  pollution  from 
which  to  be  cleansed.  3.  We  need  wisdom  to  direct.  4. 
Grace  to  assist  in  duty.  5.  Strength  under  the  burdens 
and  afflictions  of  life. 

III.  The  encouragement  we  have  for  this.  1.  The  char- 
acter of  the  Promiser.  2.  The  promises  themselves — so 
plain,  varied,  and  full.  3.  The  history  of  God's  dealings 
with  his  people  in  all  ages.  The  Israelites  at  the  sea,  in  the 
wilderness,  at  Jordan  and  Jericho.  Individual  instances — 
Elisha,  Jesse  Wilson,  and  others.  God  helps.  Oh,  help  for 
languishing  Zion's  sake  I  Oh,  that  our  ignorance  of  God  and 
consequent  unbelief  were  removed  1 


252  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

THE  GRACE  OF  EELIGIOUS  CABELESSNESS. 
"Be  careful  for  nothing."    (Phil.  iv.  6.) 

T.  Negatively.  1.  Not  indifierence  as  to  right  and  wrong. 
We  are  to  contend  earnestly ;  watch  in  all  things.  2.  Not 
slothful  in  business.  Are  to  have  a  calling,  and  be  first 
in  it  if  possible.  3.  Not  to  be  unconcerned  as  to  the  pros- 
perity of  the  church  and  the  salvation  of  souls.  "  I  could 
wish  that  myself  were  accursed." 

II.  Affirmatively.  1.  Freedom  from  useless  regrets  about 
the  past, — misfortunes,  afflictions,  sins  even.  2.  Freedom 
from  needless  anxieties  about  the  future.  Do  duty  in  all 
things;  then  trust.  3.  Submission  to  the  present.  God's 
will  revealed  in  his  providence.  J.  Brown  of  Haddington 
would  have  had  none  of  the  circumstances  of  his  life  changed. 
To  the  believing  Christian  all  things  work  together  for  good. 

III.  The  antidote.  Prayer.  Thanksgiving.  Trials  will 
come.  Temptations  will  beset.  Disappointments  the  lot  of 
the  best  men.  Refer  all  things  to  God.  For  a  preacher  to 
go  where  he  is  not  wanted  the  hardest  trial;  but  this  no 
exception. 

IV.  Results.  Floweth  like  a  river.  Passe th  all  under- 
standing. 

Christ's  cup  of  sorrow. 

*'0  my  Father,  if  it  ba  possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me."   (Matthew  xxvi.  39.) 

I.  Why  must  he  drink  this  cup?  1.  The  Scriptures 
declare  it  necessary.  Isaiah  liii.  4,  5,  6;  Zechariah  xiii.  7; 
Luke  xxiv.  25,  26;  Acts  xvii.  3.  2.  The  justice  of  God  re- 
quires it.  If  God  is  strictly  just,  he  can  by  no  means  clear 
the  guilty  without  a  sufficient  expiation  for  guilt  to  main- 
tain his  justice.  Romans  iii.  25,26.  3.  Necessary  to  har- 
monize the  divine  attributes — justice,  mercy,  love,  tnitli. 
Psalms  Ixxxv.  10.    4.   To  reveal  the  character  and  attributes 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  253 

of  God.    God  manifested.    5.    To  check  rebellion  and  secure 
obedience  in  the  universe. 

II.  What  were  the  ingredients  of  that  cup?  1.  Not 
present  outward  circumstances.  2.  Not  the  crucifixion. 
3.  No  physical  suflFering,  but  mental  anguish,  arising  from, 
1.)  The  concentration  of  human  guilt.  Isaiah  liii.  7.  2.) 
The  sword  of  divine  justice.  3.)  The  most  dreadful  assaults 
of  Satan.  Hebrews  ii.  18.  What  sorrow  was  even  like  this? 
Behold  him  in  his  agony!  and  learn  to  hate  and  shun  sin. 

III.  Why  did  he  pray  to  be  delivered  from  the  cup  ?  1. 
The  natural  shrinkings  of  his  humanity.  2.  As  an  example 
to  us. 

Practical  improvement.  1.  We  learn  his  method  of 
prayer.  2,  We  learn  the  Lord's  way  of  answering  prayer. 
Was  his  prayer  answered  ?  How  ?  Not  by  removing  the 
cup,  but  by  increasing  his  strength.  3.  We  are  taught 
resignation  in  sorrow — the  sinner's  hope.  4.  Also  self-sacri- 
ficing benevolence.  5.  The  astonishing  guilt  of  sinners  in 
regard  to  the  Savior  1 

FAMILY  RELIGION. 

I.  Its  importance.  1.  The  family  the  foundation  of 
government — civil  and  ecclesiastic — and  of  all  true  reforms. 
'Tis  the  fountain  whence  good  or  evil  influences  flow  to  the 
nations.  2.  Impressions  made  and  habits  formed  in  child- 
hood and  youth  generally  remain ;  the  Ethiopian  and 
leopard.  Thomas  Benton ;  comparatively  few  are  really 
converted  in  old  age.  Look  around  and  ask  when  were  con- 
verted those  who  are  now  active  in  the  cause  of  Christ. 
Look  at  those  who  have  resisted  holy  influences  for  many 
years,  how  almost  hopeless  is  their  case.  3.  The  family  ia 
ordained  of  God  to  be  a  kind  of  school,  and  a  church.  The 
father  the  minister  of  God  to  hishouseheld,  and  also  a  king; 
and  the  mother  a  teacher  of  good  things. 


254  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

II.  What  is  implied  in  family  religion?  1.  Govern- 
meDt.  This  is  of  the  first  importance;  without  it  there  can 
be  no  piety.  This  is  the  most  diflBcult  part  of  a  parent's 
duty;  depravity,  selfishness,  ungovernable  passion,  and  the 
snares  of  an  alluring  world  all  combine  to  baffle  them  in  this 
duty.  Where  patience  is  wanting,  how  often  is  the  parent's 
heart  almost  crushed  with  care  and  vexation  in  trying  to  con- 
trol a  wayward  and  selfish  child.  2.  Training.  The  children 
must  be  instructed  in  right  knowledge.  This  a  positive 
duty.  Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  he  should  go.  Bring 
them  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  Like  a 
young  tree  when  crooked,  must  be  straightened — branches 
must  be  lopped  oflf,  etc.  3.  Worship — including  the  read- 
ing of  the  Scriptures,  prayer,  and  thanksgiving.  This  im- 
plies a  suitable  frame  of  mind — a  converted,  or  at  least  a 
seeking  state,  so  that  it  may  be  done  with  reverence.  Must 
be  done  at  regular  times;  morning  and  evening  most  suitable. 
Ought  to  be  early  in  the  evening,  before  the  children  become 
sleepy.  4.  Should  never  be  crowded  out  for  worldly  cares, 
nor  given  up  through  discouragement.  The  letter  from  the 
apprentice — the  man  whose  children  grew  up  without  relig- 
ion, etc.  5.  Some  of  the  benefits.  It  will  help  govern  the 
children.  It  will  govern  the  parents  themselves.  The  man 
that  prays  will  not  be  likely  to  fall  into  scandalous  sins.  It 
will  keep  before  the  minds  of  the  household  the  idea  of  a 
God,  and  their  obligations  to  serve  him.  It  will  have  a  good 
influence  even  on  others. 

Application.  We  will,  etc.  1.  This  resolution  made 
considerately  after  long  trial.  2.  Witliout  the  surround- 
ings of  a  revival.  3.  Without  waiting  for  oUiers.  4.  A 
fiied  determination  to  serve  God  in  all  he  dictates  —  buy- 
ing, selling,  moving,  farming,  associatioui» — at  home,  abroad, 
everywhere  and  in  everythijig.     Salaries.     God  help. 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  255 

CHAEACTER   OF   JONAH. 

I.  Brief  sketch  of  his  life;  commanded  to  go  to  Nine- 
veh; flees  to  Tarsus;  overtalfen  and  miraculously  cast  upon 
the  land  ;  retraces  his  steps  and  faithfully  delivers  his  mes- 
sage. The  people  repent ;  he  is  offended ;  and  God  expostu- 
lates. 

II.  His  character.  1.  A  prophet,  nearly  nine  hundred 
years  before  Christ — the  first  whose  writings  are  recorded. 
2.  He  was  honest;  confessed  the  truth  even  when  it  was 
against  him.  3.  Was  mighty  in  prayer  when  overwhelmed 
in  distress.  He  had  evidently  some  fear  of  God  before  hia 
eyes.  4.  But  his  good  qualities  were  very  much  neutral- 
ized by  his  defects — natural  and  moral.  He  was  very  self- 
willed,  and  hence  dissatisfied  with  his  appointment  to 
Nineveh,  a  hard  distant  field;  and  go  he  would  not.  Fretful 
and  peevish,  faithless  and  desponding,  even  unto  death. 

Practical  improvement.  1.  God  calls  and  sends  his  own 
ministers,  even  yet,  those  who  hear  his  voice  and  understand 
his  will.  2.  They  must  preach  according  to  instruction.  3. 
How  difficult  to  flee  from  duty.  Our  sins  will  surely  find  ua 
out.  4.  They  must  preach  against  the  wickedness  of  the 
people.  This  necessary  to  arouse.  A  wise  minister  will 
know  when  to  present  the  law,  and  when  the  gospel.  5. 
Learn  the  need  of  entire  abandonment  to  the  work  of 'saving 
souls.     God  help. 

ELIJAH   THE   TISHBITE. 

The  great  prophet  who  prophesied  about  nine  hundred 
years  before  Christ.  One  of  the  best  and  greatest  men  that 
ever  lived.  His  traits  of  character.  But  first  notice  the 
manner  of  his  appearance,  sudden,  unannounced,  and  with- 
out one  word  of  his  previous  history.  The  times  in  which  he 
lived — of  Ahab  and  Jezebel  abominably  corrupt  and  idola- 


256  LITE   OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

trous,  1.  His  life  was  a  life  of  poverty.  No  property,  no 
home,  no  salary,  and  yet  his  wants  were  in  some  way  sup- 
plied. He  worked  for  God,  and  he  fed  him — once  by  ravens, 
once  by  a  poor  widow,  and  once  by  an  angel.  2.  His  was  a 
persecuted  life.  The  king  and  his  wicked  subjects  called 
him  the  troubler  of  Israel.  Then  the  queen  was  sworn 
to  destroy  him.  3.  A  life  unreservedly  consecrated  to 
God.  See  his  boldness  in  opposing  sin,  his  faithfulness  in 
delivering  God's  message,  and  his  singleness  of  purpose  in 
opposing  the  prevailing  idolatry.  A  man  of  one  idea;  this  one 
thing.  4.  He  was  a  man  of  prayer.  He  shut  heaven  by 
prayer,  brought  rain,  raised  the  dead  to  life,  and  brought  fire 
to  consume  the  sacrifice.  5.  His  firmness  in  the  right 
though  vastly  in  the  minority;  a  regular  old  fogy  had  he 
lived  in  our  age ;  he  would  not  have  sanctioned  any  of  the 
new  improvements  of  the  modern  worship.  He  was  worth 
a  score  of  our  modern  time-serving  preachers.  6.  His  was 
a  successful  ministry.  The  prophets  of  Baal  were  destroyed. 
The  people  were  emancipated  from  their  fears,  and  were 
ready  to  acknowledge  the  true  God,  and  a  host  of  young 
prophets  were  raised  up.  7.  His  end  was  glorious.  A  suf- 
ficient reward  for  his  poverty  and  perseverance. 

ABRAHAM'S  FAITH. 

"He  staggered  not  at  the  promise  of  Ood  through  unbelief;  but  was  strong  in 
faith,  giving  glory  to  Ood."    (Rom.  iv.  20.) 

I.  Show  its  strength.  1.  Notice  the  different  exercises 
of  his  faith.  He  was  first  called  at  the  age  of  seventy-five, — 
when  he  was  an  old  man, — and  Isaac  was  promised;  then 
thirty  or  more  years  later,  when  he  was  commanded  to  sacri- 
fice him.  2.  He  firmly  believed  all  that  God  said  to  him.  3. 
He  patiently  waited  through  long  years  of  trial  for  the  ful- 
fillment of  the  promise.  4.  He  had  an  unwavering  trust, 
which  led  him  to  overlook  all  natural  impossibilities,  and 


LIFE   OF  BISHOP  EDWARDS.  257 

even  to  crucify  his  noblest  affections,  in  order  to  obey  God. 
6.  It  resulted  in  complete  and  unquestioning  obedience.  6. 
He  did  not  stagger  under  the  heaviest  duty. 

IL  Show  how  strong  faith  glorifies  God.  1.  It  honors 
him  to  implicitly  credit  his  word.  2.  It  secures  our  per- 
sonal salvation,  which  glorifies  him.  3.  Our  example  influ- 
ences others  to  give  him  glory. 

Remarks.  1.  What  more  dishonoring  to  God  than  unbe- 
lief or  weak  faith?  2.  Unbelief  one  cause  of  our  lukewarm- 
ness.  3,  The  reason  we  have  so  few  direct  and  manifest 
answers  to  prayer.  4.  How  can  we  obtain  such  faith  ?  By 
exercising  what  we  have;  by  self-denial;  by  implicit  obedi- 
ence in  all  things;  walking  in  the  steps  of  Abraham's  faith. 

The  above  sketches  convey  but  a  feeble  idea  of 
Bishop  Edwards'  power  in  preaching.  But  any 
one  who  will  examine  carefully  these  outlines 
will  be  convinced  that  he  did  not  rely  on  cheap 
experiences  for  effect.  The  wonder  is  that  he 
could  pour  his  soul  into  the  old-time  principles 
of  Christianity  so  as  to  give  to  them  the  freshness 
and  power  of  new  discourses.  Then  the  amount 
of  solid  material  which  he  succeeded  in  unifying, 
vitalizing,  and  compressing  into  a  single  discourse 
would  have  been  baffling  to  most  minds.  In  an 
eminent  degree  he  seized  truth  in  its  elementary 
forms,  and  formed  his  particular  combinations 
with  astonishing  power  and  freshness. 

17 


^F^^ 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Fifteenth  General  Conference— Re-elected  Bishop  —  The  Con- 
ferences—  Visit  to  the  Pacific  Coast  —  Letters — Review 
of  his  "Work  in  the  West. 

^"^^r  URING  the  preceding  quadrennial  term, 
[T  the  Church  had  prospered  in  its  various 
interests.  The  increase  of  membership 
j^  was  over  eighteen  thousand,  the  entire  mem- 
^^  bership  being  one  hundred  and  eight  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  thirty- two.  The 
lingering  influences  of  the  civil  war  and  the 
speculating  tendencies  of  the  times  were  promi- 
nent obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  greatest  and 
most  satisfactory  results.  The  energies  and  in- 
strumentalities of  the  Church,  however,  were 
persistently  used  in  enlarging  and  building  up 
the  different  departments  of  church-work.  The 
Church  seemed  to  be  in  a  transition  stage,  be- 
tween the  wide  evangelistic  influences  prevailing 
before  the  war  and  a  more  settled  condition  of 
home  cultivation  and  careful  pastoral  methods. 
In  this  state  of  things  the  fifteenth  General  Con- 

258 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  259 

ference  met  at  Lebanon,  Pennsylvania,  May  20, 
1869.  Thirty  -  eight  annual  conferences  were 
•entitled  to  representation.  Bishops  Glossbrenner, 
Edwards,  Markwood,  Weaver,  and  Shuck  were 
all  present.  Bishop  Markwood,  however,  wa8 
in  extremely  poor  health.  At  the  hour  of  2:00 
p.  M.,  immediately  on  the  assembling  of  the  con- 
ference. Bishop  Edwards  preached  the  quadren- 
nial sermon,  from  Psalms  cxxxiii.  1.  The  sermon 
was  intended  to  be  preparatory  to  the  sacred  and 
grave  duties  of  the  conference,  and  was  listened 
to  with  deep  interest. 

The  questions  before  this  conference  were  more 
€xciting  than  those  of  any  previous  General  Con- 
ference. Bishop  Edwards,  by  a  special  motion, 
was  called  upon  to  close  the  discussion  on  the 
secrecy  question,  after  the  debate  had  been  run- 
ning nearly  two  days  and  a  half. 

He  said,  "  It  has  been  clearly  proved  on  the 
floor  that  these  secret  temperance  orders  are  all 
children  of  Masonry.  They  are  Mason -born. 
Masons  form  the  constitutions  of  Odd-fellows 
and  of  Good  Templars.  I  do  not  know  anything 
about  the  Rechabites  and  the  Cadets;  but  I  see 
the  foot-prints  and  the  finger-marks  of  Masonry 
in  all  the  constitutions  of  these  secret  orders. 
Did  you  ever  carefully  look  at  the  Constitution 
of  the  Good  Templars   with   this  idea  in  your 


260  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

minds?  Mark  the  similarity  in  names.  They 
have  their  lodges,  grand  lodges,  charters,  degrees, 
titles, — such  as  Grand  Worthy  Chief, — initiation, 
grips,  signs,  obligations,  pass-words,  inside  and 
outside  guards,  gavel,  anteroom,  balls  —  black 
and  white — for  voting.  If  the  fashion  of  the 
Good  Templars  suits  us,  hence,  also,  the  fashions 
of  Masons.  Do  you  see  the  f)arallel?  And  Masons 
themselves,  understanding  these  things,  laugh  in 
their  sleeves  when  they  see  good,  true,  innocent, 
and  secrecy-hating  United  Brethren  advocating 
the  reception  of  their  children,  while  they  turn 
the  old  parents  out.  Why,  my  friends,  the  thing 
is  preposterous,  and  they  would  all  laugh  at  us  if 
we  would  undertake  it." 

This  is  not  the  place  to  characterize  this  dis- 
cussion, nor  to  speak  of  its  results  upon  the 
Church.  The  above  extract,  however,  shows 
very  clearly  the  relation  of  Bishop  Edwards  to  it. 
This  much,  at  least,  we  all  need  in  order  to  under- 
stand the  story  of  his  life.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that 
the  large  majority  of  the  conference,  by  the  tra- 
ditional spirit  of  the  Church  and  by  personal 
convictions,  were  earnestly  opposed  to  any  change 
in  the  rule,  further  than  seemed  to  be  required  to 
make  it  more  easy  of  execution  and  more  effi- 
cient. 

The  subject  of  lay  delegation  received  consid- 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  261 

erable  attention;  but  on  the  ground  that  there 
was  no  verj^  general  demand  for  it,  on  the  part 
of  the  laity,  the  proposition  in  its  favor  was 
defeated,  only  thirty-two  delegates  voting  for  it. 
Bishop  Edwards  was  in  the  chair  and  of  course 
did  not  vote. 

His  position  in  reference  to  the  use  of  instru- 
mental music  in  public  worship,  and  his  advocacy 
of  the  prohibitory  clause  adopted  in  1865,  are 
already  understood.  While  there  was  no  consid- 
erable change  throughout  the  Church  as  to  the 
merits  of  the  subject,  it  was  nevertheless  felt, 
especially  in  some  congregations,  that  the  pro- 
hibitory action  referred  to  was  carrying  legisla- 
tion a  little  too  far.  Four  years  had  passed;  and 
while  the  subject  was  again  under  consideration 
Eishop  Edwards  said,  "  I  think  I  have  been  mis- 
understood. I  am  not  so  thorough  a  convert  to 
instrumental  music  as  these  brethren  have  repre- 
sented me.  I  hate  it  as  much  as  ever,  and  think 
with  Luther,  that  so  far  as  worship  is  concerned, 
it  is  still  of  the  devil,  in  one  sense  at  least.  I 
have  not  changed  from  that.  But  I  saw  that  we 
-could  not  keep  it  out  by  this  legislation ;  I  saw 
the  spirit  of  this  General  Conference;  and  I 
thought  it  one  of  those  things  upon  which  we 
could  compromise."  So  he  moved  an  advisory 
clause   against   the    introduction   of    choirs   and 


262'  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

instrumental  music,  saying  as  he  did  So,  "  We 
£]iall  thus  have  a  good  opportunity  to  try  the 
effect  of  advisory  law,  which  has  been  so  ap- 
plauded here;  and  I  do  not  know  a  better  subject 
on  which  to  try  it  than  this."  So  the  amendment 
of  Bishop  Edwards  providing  for  an  advisory 
clause  prevailed.  It  was  generally  conceded, 
however,  that  instruments  and  choir-singing  in 
churches  tend  to  destroy  spirituality. 

One  of  the  most  important  acts  of  this  sessio) 
of  General  Conference  was  that  which  led  to  the 
founding  of  Union  Biblical  Seminary.  The  time 
was  past  for  very  much  difference  of  sentiment 
or  opposition  in  reference  to  the  subject  of  spe- 
cial education  for  the  ministry. 

Another  step  of  much  importance  was  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  mission  in  Germany.  All  these 
measures  received  the  hearty  concurrence  and 
advocacy  of  Bishop  Edwards. 

From  this  time  on  the  General  Conference  did 
not  attempt  to  name  a  uniform  salary  for  minis- 
ters. As  early  as  1857,  provision  was  made  for 
an  increase  above  the  salary  named  in  cases  in 
which  it  was  necessary. 

The  new  conferences  formed  were  the  Osage 
and  East  German.  The  Michigan  was  given  the 
name  of  the  North  Ohio  Conference,  and  the 
North  Michigan  was  to  be  called  the  Michigaa 


LITE    OP    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  263 

Conference.  The  Kentucky  was  included  for  the 
time  with  the  Indiana  Conference.  During  the 
succeeding  quadrennial  term  the  Dakota,  South- 
ern Illinois,  and  Colorado  mission- conferences 
were  organized. 

Bishops  Glossbrenner,  Edwards,  and  T7eaver 
were  re-elected,  and  in  the  place  of  Bishop  Mark- 
wood,  who  was  prostrated  by  affliction,  J.  Dick- 
son, of  Pennsylvania  Conference,  was  elected. 
The  four  bishops  were  each  in  turn  to  visit  the 
Pacific  conferences;  and  they  were  each  to  re- 
ceive, as  salary,  one  thousand  dollars. 

Bishop  Edwards  was  given  the  East  Missis- 
sippi District,  embracing  the  St.  Joseph,  Upper 
Wabash,  Lower  Wabash,  Central  Illinois,  Illi- 
nois, Indiana,  Michigan,  and  White  River  con- 
ferences. 

After  Bishop  Glossbrenner  had  made  some  re- 
marks in  connection  with  the  closing  of  the  ses- 
sion. Bishop  Edwards  spoke  as  follows:  "I  am 
glad  of  the  fellowship  I  have  enjoyed  here,  and 
in  previous  General  Conferences.  Whatever  I 
am  I  owe  to  this  Church.  I  was  converted  in  this 
Church,  and  have  been  promoted  from  time  to 
time,  often  against  my  protest,  notwithstanding 
my  many  defects.  I  am  glad  to  approve  the 
statement  of  Brother  Glossbrenner  as  to  the 
peace    and  fellowship  that  have  always   existed 


264  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

among  the  superintendents.  I  hope  the  spirit  of 
forbearance  and  brotherly  love  will  be  more  and 
more  cultivated  among  us.  Many  of  us  have 
much  to  learn  in  this  respect.  We  ought  to  love 
one  another  though  we  differ  in  opinion.  The 
spirit  of  dissension  in  conference  or  in  church 
will  soon  prove  ruinous." 

Bishop  Edwards  continued  to  reside  at  West 
Sonora  until  November  following  the  General  _ 
Conference,  when  he  removed  to  Lexington,  Illi-  g 
nois,  where  he  occupied  the  residence  nearly  com-  -- 
pleted  for  the  bishop  of  the  East  Mississippi  ': 
District.  The  church  and  citizens  of  Lexington, '. 
considered  themselves  fortunate  in  having  the^ 
bishop  and  his  family  reside  in  their  midst. 

Immediately  after  the  General  Conference, 
Bishop  Edwards  went  to  Chicago  to  attend  the 
anniversary  of  the  Antisocrecy  Convention,  of 
which  he  was  president.  His  opening  address 
was  an  excellent  production,  and  received  marked 
attention.  In  respect  to  the  antisecrecy  conflict 
he  said,  "  All  who  are  present  to  engage  in  this 
struo-irle  are  heroes.  The  time  for  cowards  has 
not  yet  arrived;  but  when  a  sentiment  sufficiently 
strong  shall  be  created  against  secret  societies 
there  will  be  enough  of  that  class  of  men  to  fall 
into  line." 

These  were  bold  words,  yet  no  one  more  than 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  265 

he  saw  the  necessity  of  genuine  prudence.  In  an 
interval  in  the  convention  he  remarked  to  a  min- 
ister of  the  United  Brethren  Church  that  great 
prudence  was  necessary  to  the  success  of  the 
antisecrecy  reform,  observing  that  even  the  pre- 
<3ious  doctrine  of  hoUness  had  much  to  fear  from 
the  imprudence  of  its  advocates. 

No  part  of  the  East  Mississippi  District  was 
■entirely  new  to  Bishop  Edwards,  and  at  the  dif- 
ferent conference  sessions  nothing  very  unusual 
took  place.  He  attended  all  of  the  conference 
sessions  of  his  district  during  the  entire  term. 
His  characteristic  firmness  as  an  administrator  of 
law  was  as  manifest  as  it  had  been  during  the 
former  terms.  In  the  White  River  Conference 
there  was  a  small  faction  that  sought  to  nullify 
the  secrecy  law;  and  failing  to  do  that,  they  work- 
ed w^hat  injury  they  could,  and  either  withdrew 
or  were  expelled.  The  faintest  marks  of  schism 
or  defection  have  appeared  at  different  times  in 
several  conferences,  or  perhaps  better,  in  the  ter- 
ritory of  several  conferences;  but  to  the  credit 
of  the  moderation,  piety,  and  good  sense  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  under  the  good  provi- 
dence of  God,  none  of  the  storms  and  conflicts 
that  have  risen  in  the  course  of  over  one  hun- 
dred years  have  been  permitted  to  produce  schism 
•or   f  ermanent   alienation.     One   of   the   reasons 


266  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

may  be  that,  unlike  many  cliurclies,  the  United 
Brethren  Church  was  not  founded  as  the  result 
of  schism. 

Bishop  Edwards'  report  of  the  conferences  of 
1869  contains  the  following:  "I  am  glad  to  be 
able  to  say  that  though  we  were  threatened  with 
difficulties  in  some  of  the  conferences  we  have 
had  general  peace  and  evident  tokens  of  God's 
presence.  In  one  conference  a  few  were  expelled 
for  insubordination,  and  some  others  of  the  same 
Btripe  left  us,  and  in  one  other  conference  some 
others  breathing  a  like  spirit  withdrew.  We  look 
for  peace  and  prosperity  the  coming  year.  The 
Discipline  will  be  carried  out,  we  hope,  with 
meekness  and  love  toward  such  as  have  been  led 
astray.  Our  greatest  want  now  is  a  new  baptism 
from  heaven.  When  the  Church  is  lukewarm 
all  forms  of  error  spring  up,  and  discontent  and 
a  spirit  of  murmuring  prevail.  While  men  sleep 
the  enemy  sows  tares.  But  it  is  a  consoling  re- 
flection that  the  great  Head  of  the  church  never 
sleeps." 

In  a  letter  written  about  four  months  after  his 
moving  to  Lexington  he  said,  "  The  people  here 
are  quite  clever,  and  they  respect  the  Church  and 
the  ministry  more  than  have  the  people  in  any 
place  where  I  have  lived  before.  The  cause  of 
religion  is  flourishing  all  around  us.     Just  now; 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  267 

we  are  having  a  blessed  revival  here.  We  have 
a  strong  society  at  this  place.  I  am  still  going 
about  as  heretofore.  To-night  I  am  to  preach  at 
seven  and  leave  at  half  past  eight  to  go  west  to 
another  dedication.  Next  week  I  am  to  be  at 
home  one  day,  and  then  away  for  two  weeks. 
God  has  been  very  good  to  me  all  through  life, 
and  my  health  is  of  late  years  better  than  ever 
before.  In  the  general  way  my  peace  flows  like 
a  river.  I  have  the  very  best  compassionate  Sav- 
ior— forgiving,  loving,  and  helping  in  every  time 
of  need.  I  have  some  serious  complaints  against 
myself,  such  as  mental  laziness,  and  delinquen- 
cies arising  therefrom.  Yet  I  have  some  aspira- 
tions after  better  things." 

In  the  spring  of  1871  he  went  to  the  Pacific 
coast  to  attend  the  California,  Oregon,  and 
Cascade  conferences,  being  absent  about  three 
months.  Going  in  company  with  him  were  Revs. 
J.  H.  Watson,  J.  F.  Fields,  and  E.  De  Witt— 
these  ministers  being  under  appointment  as  mis- 
sionaries to  the  coast.  On  reaching  Sacramento, 
the  party  were  unexpectedly  met  by  friends. 
Like  Jacob  of  old,  whose  "spirit  revived  when  he 
saw  the  wagons,"  they  were  made  glad  when  they 
saw  three  wagons  and  seven  as  earnest  and  large- 
hearted  brethren  and  sisters  as  ever  greeted  a 
dusty  and  weary  set  of  travelers.     While  on  this 


268  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

trip,  Bisliop  Edwards  furnished  six  very  interest- 
ing articles  to  the  Religious  Telescope.  In  one  of 
these  articles,  after  describing  the  advantage  of 
the  country,  he  said,  "  Were  there  not  another 
side  to  this  picture  the  country  would  be  a  para- 
dise. But  like  every  other  spot  on  this  mundane 
sphere,  it  has  its  dark  side.  It  is  not  the  plan  of 
Providence  to  give  us  our  heaven  here.  Every- 
where there  are  evils  enough  to  cause  us  to  look 
for  a  better  country.  In  this  world  the  lights  and 
shades,  the  good  and  the  evil,  are  far  more  evenly 
balanced  than  people  are  disposed  to  believe. 
Happy  is  he  who  expects  no  perfect  clime  here, 
but  early  makes  sure  his  claim  in  the  beautiful 
land  beyond  the  river." 

During  his  stay  on  the  Pacific  coast  he  en- 
tered earnestly  into  the  investigation  of  the  work 
there,  sought  to  remove  the  causes  that  impeded 
progress,  and  labored  to  impart  an  earnest  and 
healthful  impulse  to  all  the  laborers  in  these  dis- 
tant conferences.  Five  days  were  occupied  in 
reaching  Sacramento,  and  the  entire  cost,  at 
clergymen's  rates,  was  less  than  one  hundred  dol- 
lars. Eighteen  years  before,  when  Rev.  T.  J. 
Connor,  under  appointment  as  missionary  to  Ore- 
gon, went  with  teams,  he  was  six  months  and 
eighteen  days  in  reaching  the  settlements  on  the 
Willamette  River,  Oregon.     It  was  only  in  1869 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  269 

that  fhe  great  trans-coutinental  railway  was  com- 
pleted. 

While  in  Portland,  Oregon,  Bishop  Edwards 
called  upon  Dr.  Dillon  of  the  Pacific  Christian 
Advocate.  Having  been  invited  to  share  his  hos- 
pitality, and  having  had  a  pleasant  interview 
with  him,  he  was  abou*  to  leave;  but,  said  he,  "  I 
think  we  should  have  worship  together  before  we 
part."  A  Bible  was  handed,  and  opening  it  he 
remarked,  "  I  will  read  that  precious  portion  of 
God's  Holy  Word, — the  Christian's  life-insurance 
policy, — the  ninety-first  psalm."  After  returning 
he  received  a  copy  of  Dr.  Dillon's  paper,  in  which 
his  visit  was  noticed  and  the  beautiful  title  given 
the  psalm  referred  to.  This  psalm  was  a  great 
favorite  of  the  bishop's,  and  when  read  by  him  in 
the  families  of  those  whose  hospitality  he  shared 
it  became  very  significant. 

On  his  way  back  he  stopped  to  look  into  the 
work  a  little  in  Colorado,  and  then  came  on  in 
time  to  meet  the  missionary  Board  at  Canton, 
Ohio,  August  6. 

V  In  August,  1872,  he,  by  the  concurrence  of  the 
Board  of  Missions,  organized  the  Southern  Illi- 
nois Conference.  Thus  we  see  him  incessantly 
engaged  in  the  interest  of  the  Church — like  his 
Lord  and  Master,  going  about,  here  and  there, 
doing  good.     His  was  indeed  a  busy  life. 


270  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

In  June,  1872,  he  delivered  an  address  before 
the  students  and  friends  of  Union  Biblical  Semi- 
nary, in  connection  with  the  closing  exercises  of 
this  institution  of  sacred  learning.  His  feelius"s 
prior  to  the  delivery  of  this  address  are  indicated 
in  a  private  letter  written  a  few  weeks  before- 
hand. "  I  am  looked  to,"  said  he,  "  for  an  address 
before  the  school  of  the  prophets,  Juue  5.  Well, 
if  the  Lord  is  not  with  me  it  will  be  a  failure,  I 
know.  But  I  know  that  he  will  be  with  me  if 
only  I  am  with  him.  Oh!  I  hope  my  heart  may 
be  in  such  a  frame  that  he  can  bless  me  without 
doing  me  injury.  He  will  help  me  if  he  can,  I 
am  sure.  But  how  treacherous  is  this  heart  of 
mine;  how  selfish  and  how  prone  to  deceive  even 
itself.  '  He  that  trusteth  in  his  own  heart  is  a 
fool.'  Solomon  never  uttered  a  more  truthful 
Baying.  God  can  save  to  the  uttermost,  and  is 
able  to  make  all  grace  abound  toward  me  through 
Jesus  my  Lord." 

The  address  when  delivered  proved  to  be  most 
happy.  He  was  favored  with  a  large  and  appre- 
ciative audience.  The  eulogies  upon  the  senti- 
ments and  points  of  excellence  of  the  address 
were  hearty  and  general. 

Some  extracts  from  letters  written  by  the  bishop, 
and  other  examples  of  his  familiar  and  habitual 
expressions,  will  be  introduced  here.    Immedi- 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  271 

ately  on  being  introduced  to  persons  lie  would 
often  inquire  as  to  the  state  of  their  souls.  Rarely 
would  he  close  a  letter  without  inquiring  as  to 
the  spiritual  progress  of  his  correspondent.  He 
watched,  also,  and  familiarly  disclosed,  the  act- 
ings and  progress  of  his  own  soul.  On  meeting  at 
one  time  with  Scioto  Conference  he  said,  "  Breth- 
ren, I  have  either  backslidden  or  God  has  revealed 
a  new  stratum  of  my  depravity." 

The  following  from  a  letter  written  in  1858  is 
characteristic  and  very  significant: 

"I  have  just  enough  trial  to  convince  me  that  my  heart 
is  not  to  be  trusted  ;  that  it  needs  just  as  much  the  atoning 
blood  now  to  keep  pure  as  it  did  in  the  first  place  to  save 
from  sin.  Oh,  what  a  fathomless  deep  is  the  human  heartl 
How  endless  and  diversified  its  forms  of  depravity!  How 
many  lives  the  old  man  of  Sin  seems  to  possess!  He  may  be 
nailed  to  the  cross  and  buried,  and  yet  he  revives  again  in 
some  other  form.  I  have  been  so  often  deceived  by  his  man- 
ners that  I  fear  to  say  that  he  is  dead — that  I  am  crucified 
with  Christ.  T  can  with  comparative  ease  profess  entire 
consecration  to  Christ,  because  I  feel  that  to  be  true;  but 
to  say  that  my  depraved  nature  is  all  destroyed,  is  quite 
another  thing.  Oh,  my  weakness  and  infirmities!  Lord, 
help  me,  and  subdue  my  nature  entirely  to  thyself." 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  writ- 
ten in  1859  to  a  sister  in  the  church,  whose  way 
was  often  overcast  with  clouds: 

"Your  letter  indicated  less  faith  and  less  victory  than  you 
have  before  expressed.    Perhaps  you  wrote  at  a  time  of 


272  LIFE    OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

peculiar  trial.  This  trial  of  faith  is  more  precious  than  gold. 
My  dear  sister,  do  not  forget  that  it  is  through  much  tribu- 
lation that  we  must  enter  into  the  kingdom.  We  naturally 
love  ease  and  prosperity.  But  these  will  not  crucify  the  old 
man ;  they  only  prolong  his  life.  In  the  beginning  of  this 
year  I  was  enabled  to  reconsecrate  my.self  to  God's  work. 
Since  then  I  have  had  more  victory  and  faith,  more  power 
in  preaching,  more  fruit  of  my  labor,  and  better  health;  can 
preach  every  day  for  a  month  at  a  time  without  weariness." 

In  a  letter  written  in  1861  he  said, — 

"I  am  trying  to  live  an  entirely  consecrated  life.  Some- 
times I  feel  a  peculiar  pleasure  in  trusting  all  things,  both 
temporal  and  spiritual,  in  the  hands  of  our  heavenly  Father. 
The  future  sometimes  looks  dark ;  but  when  I  reflect  how 
God  has  cared  for  us  for  the  past  two-score  years,  I  find  no 
diflBculty  in  trusting  that  the  same  Providence  will  care  for 
us  for  all  time  to  come,  even  in  old  age,  if  such  a  lot  should 
be  ours," 

From  a  letter  written  in  1862,  note  the  follow- 
ing: 

"  It  strikes  me  that  if  more  time  were  spent  in  communion 
with  the  ever-present  Spirit,  more  special  prayers  would  be 
put  into  our  mouths.  American  Christianity,  like  every- 
thing else  American,  drives  us  into  society  and  keeps  us 
there,  in  a  hurry  and  a  bustle  all  the  time.  All  must  go  by 
steam  and  lightning.  Thus  we  have  little  time  or  inclina- 
tion for  silent,  closet  communication  with  heaven.  Your 
resolution  to  gain  some  important  victories  during  a  specific 
time  reminds  me  of  my  feelings  many  years  ago,  when  placed 
on  Circleville  Station.  The  battle  waa  hot,  but  the  victory 
yiaa  gained.    I  sometimes  think  that  I  need  to  go  through 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  273 

another  such  a  fight,  in  order  to  get  a  new  edge.  Even  an 
ax  can  not  be  sharpened  without  being  put  on  the  grind- 
stone. I  suppose  it  takes  a  hotter  fire  to  purify  some  than 
others.  Guess  I  am  one  of  the  number  that  need  to  be  often 
melted  over.  Oh,  that  the  Master's  image  could  be  seen  in 
my  life  and  spirit." 

On  his  trip  to  the  Pacific  coast  he  met  a  num- 
ber of  old  acquaintances,  among  them  Mrs.  Olivia 
Dunning,  who  had  been  for  a  long  time  widely 
known  in  Ohio  as  a  most  devoted  Christian,  and 
a  frequent  correspondent  for  the  different  church- 
periodicals.  In  the  following  extract  from  a  let- 
ter from  Oregon  the  reference  is  to  her: 

"Good  old  Olivia  is  still  clear  gold,  is  doing  well  every- 
way, and  is  exerting  a  wliolesome  influence.  Her  children, 
too,  are  doing  quite  well,  and  are  worthy  citizens  and  Chris- 
tians. Tell  Eev.  B.  W.  I  congratulate  him  on  his  present 
position  on  the  secrecy  question, — that  is,  if  I  understand  it, 
• — *no  society  but  the  church  for  Christians.'  We  must  come 
to  that  yet  to  be  consistent.  Let  us  lift  the  church  to  where 
it  belongs,  as  containing  all  the  reformatory  elements  neces- 
sary to  save  the  world." 

The  destructive  fire  in  Chicago,  Sunday,  Octo- 
ber 8,  1871,  the  largest  of  modern  times,  was 
indeed  a  notable  event.  A  few  days  after  it 
occurred  Bishop  Edwards  wrote, — 

"It  is  enough  to  make  one  shudder  to  think  of  such  ap- 
palling calamities.  It  does  seem  that  the  vials  of  wrath  are 
being  poured  out.  I  am  looking  for  greater  calamities  upon 
the  nations.  The  fire  in  Chicago  and  elsewhere  in  the  north- 


274  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

west  have  not  been  exaggerated.  I  was  to  some  extent  a 
witness  of  them.  I  am  to  give  a  short  lecture  to-night  in 
our  church  on  the  moral  lessons  to  be  learned  from  them. 
For  myself,  I  have  had  no  losses  worth  the  naming.  No  seri- 
ous afflictions  of  any  kind  have  ever  been  my  lot.  God  for- 
give me  wherein  I  may  have  murmured. in  the  past.  I  have 
thought  it  a  wonder  of  mercy  that  I  have  not  been  cast 
away  long  ere  this.  I  shall  be  at  home  two  weeks;  then 
away  three;  and  so  on  nearly  all  winter,  at  dedication  and 
protracted  meetings.  I  have  now  nine  dedications  promised, 
and  more  to  come." 

In  a  letter  to  a  friend,  dated  January  5,  1872, 
he  wrote, — 

"We  have  not  sold  at  Sonoro,  and  possibly  may  go  back 
there  for  a  home  in  1872,  should  the  Lord  permit  us  to  live 
80  long.  I  can  not  see  an  inch  beyond  General  Conference. 
Just  the  way  it  always  is.  I  have  commenced  the  Bible 
again  by  course.  Hope  and  expect  to  find  new  treasures  in 
it." 

In  another  of  his  letters,  dated  March  11,  1872, 
he  said, — 

"  We  have  one  Mason  in  our  church  here,  and  he  is  giving 
us  no  little  trouble.  He  has  had  a  legal  notice  to  leave  the 
lodge  within  six  months;  but  the  majority  of  the  church 
sympathize  with  him.  Their  plan  is  to  get  something  asiainst 
the  preacher  and  get  rid  of  him  before  the  six  month's  period 
ends.  But  they  will  be  disappointed,  I  guess;  for  the  pastor 
is  a  good  man  and  a  good  preacher,  and  attends  to  all  bia 
duties.  This  country,  after  all,  don't  seem  to  be  like  home. 
We  seem  to  be  off  somewhere  on  a  visit,  or  preaching  tour. 
My  books  are  accumulating  on  my  hands.     I  have  not  much 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  275 

company  to  interrupt  me,  so  that  my  situation  for  study 
would  be  good  if  I  only  could  be  at  home  more,  and  had  a 
better  heart  so  that  I  could  improve  everything  for  God.  I 
am  somewhat  stirred  up  to  the  importance  of  a  nearer  accesa 
to  God  for  my  own  sake  and  for  others." 

A  few  letters  or  extracts  indicating  the  deep 
individual  interest  he  took  in  others  can  not,  per- 
haps, be  given  in  any  place  better  than  here. 
Official  duties,  numerous  and  pressing  as  they 
were,  did  not  wholly  absorb  him.  His  personal 
sympathies  were  pure  and  tender.  JSTote  the  fol- 
lowing in  a  letter,  January  14,  1875,  to  a  little 
boy: 

"  Freddie  Cowel  :  My  dear  boy.  I  guess  you  think  that 
Grandpa  Edwards  has  forgotten  his  promise;  it  has  been  so 
long  since  he  promised  to  send  the  picture  of  liis  grandchild, 
Daisy  Bell.  Well,  she  brought  it  to  my  room  a  long  time 
ago,  and  I  put  it  in  my  drawer  ;  but  I  forgot  it  till  now.  So 
here  it  goes,  for  if  I  don't  send  it  now  it  will  be  a  long  time 
before  I  can  send  it,  as  I  shall  be  away  from  home  most  all 
winter.  Tell  Eva  I  had  forgotten  my  promise  to  send  my 
picture  and  Mrs.  E.'s  to  her  till  I  looked  on  my  book  to- 
night. But  as  I  have  none  of  mine  I  will  send  that  of  Mrs. 
E.'s,  and  send  mine  some  other  time. 

"Now,  Freddie,  I  suppose  you  are  growing  as  fast  as  you 
can,  and  when  I  come  out  there  again  I  shall  not  know  you. 
But  I  shall  often  think  of  you  as  mother's  sweet  little  pet. 
Daisy  is  the  girl  you  «ent  that  beautiful  trade-dollar  to.  She 
is  eight  years  old,  goes  to  school,  and  is  learning  fast.  Give 
my  love  to  your  pa  and  ma.  Grandpa  Hubbard,  and  Eva. 
May  the  Lord  bless  you  and  make  you  a  useful  man." 


276  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS 

The  following  is  a  letter  written  November  9, 
1866,  to  Charlie  Jones,  at  Delaware,  Ohio. 

"My Deab  Nephew:  While  writing  letters  to  others,  the 
thought  struck  me  that  it  would  not  be  amiss  to  write  a  few 
lines  to  you.  I  know  from  experience  and  long  observation 
that  boys  of  your  age  need  all  the  encouragement  possible  to 
direct  them  in  the  right  way.  Temptations  and  snares  are 
continually  set  before  the  young,  by  our  grand  enemy  and 
the  world,  to  lead  them  astray.  But  your  advantages  have 
been  far  greater  than  those  of  many  others.  God  has  blessed 
you  with  pious  parents,  who  have  watched  over  you,  and 
prayed  for  you  from  your  earli&st  years.  You  have  had 
school  and  church  privileges  to  make  you  one  of  the  best 
scholars  and  Christians,  if  they  are  properly  improved  by 
you.  But  privileges  will  not  make  men  of  us,  unless  we  are 
resolved,  by  God's  help,  to  make  men  of  ourselves.  We  may 
not  become  great,  but  we  may  become  as  good,  as  true,  and  as 
faithful  to  the  trust  committed  to  us  as  anybody  else  can  be. 
And  true  goodness  is  of  far  more  importance  than  greatness. 
Resolve,  then,  always  to  be  truthful  and  honest  in  all  your 
dealings;  cultivate  industrious  habits,  and  be  sure  and  rfo, 
or  learn  something  useful  every  day,  and  you  will  grow  up  a 
comfort  to  your  parents  and  a  blessing  to  the  world.  But 
never  forget  to  trust  in  the  Lord  in  all  things,  and  he  will 
help  you  through  life,  safely  and  happily.  I  hope  to  hear  a 
good  account  of  you  in  time  to  come.  May  the  Lord  be  with 
you  and  bless^ou." 

In  1853  he  wrote  a  letter  to  the  members  of  a 
literary  society  in  Mt.  Pleasant  College,  on  the 
occasion  of  their  electing  him  an  honorary  mem- 
ber of  the  society,  in  which  he  said, — 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWABDS.  277 

"Truth  is  older  than  the  creation,  firmer  than  the  uni- 
verse, and  as  enduring  as  eternity.  You  can  afford  to  stand 
with  the  few,  or  even  alone,  if  called  thereto.  But  alone 
you  will  not  stand;  for  God  will  be  with  you.  Take,  then, 
my  young  brethren,  the  advice  of  an  obscure  and  unseea 
friend,  and  cultivate  your  minds  and  your  hearts  for  God — > 
and  for  God  only.  Consecrate  your  natural  and  acquired 
abilities  wholly  to  him.  There  is  work  for  each  and  for  all 
of  you.  Men  who  can  stand  erect  in  this  stooping  and 
<;rouching  world  are  now  needed  in  all  the  professions  and 
vocations  of  life  as  at  no  other  time.  May  the  richest  of 
Heaven's  blessings  rest  upon  you,  your  college,  and  your 
■society." 

In  June,  1872,  Bishop  Edwards  received  the 
honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  "West- 
field  College.  This  honor  was  entirely  unexpected 
on  his  part.  There  is  no  reason  to  believe  that 
he  was  unduly  elated  by  it ;  yet  he  received  it 
gracefully.  K  a  wide  acquaintance  with  gen- 
eral literature,  solid  attainments  in  divinity,  and 
eminent  service  in  morals  and  religion  are  a 
proper  basis  for  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity, 
then  was  the  degree  in  this  place  fittingly  be- 
fitowed. 

Another  General  Conference  session  was  ap- 
proaching, and  with  it  the  work  of  Bishop  Ed- 
wards in  the  West  would  terminate.  He  counted 
himself  a  western  man  more  than  in  the  mere 
respect  of  locality.  His  spirit,  manners,  apti- 
tudes, and  acquaintances  were  decidedly  western. 


2'?8  LIFE    OF   BlSnOP    EDWARDS. 

It  is  a  matter  of  surprise  when  we  come  to  notice 
what  a  kirge  part  of  his  time  was  given  to  sub- 
stantially the  same  field.  Through  a  period  of 
twenty-four  years,  he  was  the  appointed  superin- 
tendent of  "White  Eiver  Conference  twenty  years, 
missing  but  one  session  in  that  time,  and' that  by 
way  of  exchanging.  For  fifteen  years  together 
he  was  present  at  the  annual  sessions.  He  was 
the  regular  bishop  over  Miami  Conference  for 
sixteen  years,  consecutively.  The  fourth  year, 
however,  he  was  absent  through  an  exchange 
that  had  been  agreed  upon;  but  this  absence  was 
ofiset  by  his  once  having  attended  this  conference 
previous  to  his  regular  appointment  over  it.  He 
was  also  regularly  in  charge,  for  sixteen  years, 
altogether,  of  Illinois  Conference,  missing,  how- 
ever, one  session  from  sickness.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Scioto  Conference  more  than  forty  years. 
He  was  also  bishop  of  this  his  own  conference, 
in  all,  twelve  years.  One  session  he  missed  by 
exchanging  and  another  from  sickness.  From 
the  old  conferences  of  the  West  as  a  center, 
through  his  relation  to  the  missionary  Board,  and 
especially  through  his  ofiice  as  superintendent, 
the  influence  of  Bishop  Edwards  extended,  with 
more  or  less  power,  to  all  the  West.  He  felt  that 
great  results  ought  to  be  accomplished;  and  to- 
secure   these  he  left   nothing   untried.     He  waa 


LITE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  27& 

everywhere  present  by  tlie  inspiration  which  he 
exercised,  and  by  his  pushing,  tireless  will.  And 
the  power  of  his  presence  thus  diffused  was 
everywhere  awakening,  molding,  and  always  riv- 
eting men  to  their  posts  and  tasks.  His  attention 
to  details,  his  requirement  of  system  and  order,  his 
exacting  expectations  and  demands,  and,  withal, 
the  exacting  and  coercing  model  which  he  fur- 
nished in  himself,  made  him,  in  an  important 
sense,  the  father  of  the  Church  in  the  West. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

The  Sixteenth  General  Conference  — Re-elected  Bishop  — Sent 
to  the  East  —The  Conferences — Revisits  the  Pacific  Coast 
— Incidents  of  the  First  Two  Years— Visit  to  Dayton  — 
Third  Round  — In  Baltimore— Sick  — Death  and  Burial — 
Brief  Summary. 

|fe^fS  we  approach  the   hxst  General   Confer- 
ISill  *^''^c^  attended  by  Bishop   Edwards,  and 


^^  ''his  last  term  of  service,  we  naturally  feel 
J^  inclined  to  dwell  upon  all  of  his  expressions 
»  and  actions.  The  sixteenth  General  Confer- 
ence met  May  15,  1873,  at  Dayton,  Ohio. 
The  increase  in  membership  in  the  Church  the 
preceding  four  years  was  over  seventeen  thou- 
sand, the  entire  membership  at  the  end  of  the 
term  being  over  one  hundred,  and  twenty-five 
thousand.  The  bishop's  report  referred  to  dift'er- 
ences  of  opinion  among  the  ministers  and  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  upon  essentially  important 
principles,  but  expressed  great  gratification  with 
the  Christian  spirit  that  in  the  main  had  char- 
acterized the  interchange  of  thought  on  vexed 
questions. 

During  the  session  it  was  proposed  to  submit  a 
280 


LIPE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  281 

proposition  to  the  Church  to  so  change  the  Con- 
Btitution  as  to  admit  laymen  to  membership  in  the 
General  Conference.  The  measure  prevailed,  with 
but  twelve  dissenting  votes.  Bishop  Edwards 
voted  for  it.  Some  vexing  details,  however,  in 
reference  to  the  measure  arising,  and  some  of  the 
members  not  caring  to  make  much  new  law  while 
■existing  laws  were  not  enforced,  it  occurred  that 
a  majority  of  those  who  had  voted  in  the  affirma- 
tive were  very  willing,  before  the  session  closed, 
to  allow  the  proposition  to  fail  for  the  time.  It 
was  also  feared,  on  a  final  review  of  the  question, 
that  if  an  interpretation  of  the  Constitution  of 
the  Church  were  favored  which  would  admit  of 
the  adoption  of  this  proposed  change,  that  other 
changes  not  to  be  desired  might  follow.  It 
was  very  evident  that  some  of  the  opponents,  as 
well  as  some  of  the  friends,  of  lay  delegation, 
owed  their  zeal  to  their  attitude  toward  another 
question.  Bishop  Edwards  also  announced  him- 
self willing  to  vote  for  something  looking  toward 
pro-rata  represeutation  in  the  General  Confer- 
ence. But  that  feature  was  destined  to  wait  for 
a  time. 

On  the  vote  to  indorse  the  law  of  1869,  on 
secret  societies,  there  were  but  twenty-two  nega- 
tives. The  struggle  of  the  session,  however, 
turned  on  an  amendment,  offered  by  Bishop  Ed- 


282  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

wards,  to  the  effect  that  for  the  expulsion  of 
members  against  special  law — such  as  the  law  on 
secret  societies  —  no  vote  of  the  local  society 
ehould  be  necessary.  The  bishop  supported  his 
amendment  with  the  following  speech: 

"  There  are  some  great  evils  that  seem  not  to  be 
easily  reached  by  the  ordinary  laws  of  church-gov- 
ernment. It  has  been  the  custom,  not  only  among 
nations,  but  with  churches,  to  have  special  laws 
for  special  evils,  just  as  in  regard  to  slavery — our 
great  organized  system  of  slavery.  As  a  church, 
we  had  our  general  rules;  and  we  had  against 
that  great  evil  special  legislation  from  the  time 
when  I  came  into  the  Church  until  slavery  was 
gone.  I  consider  that  organized  secrecy  is  another 
great  evil,  which  has  disturbed  the  churches  of 
America  very  much  as  slavery  did  in  its  day.  It 
is  so  insidious,  and  so  powerful  and  mean,  that 
common  legislation  will  not  meet  the  case.  Here 
we  have  special  legislation  against  it,  and  have 
had  ever  since  I  have  been  in  the  Church.  Another 
word:  I,  too,  am  against  one-mun  power.  There 
is  some  little  power  in  Masonry  and  among  Odd- 
fellows. You  get  one  or  two  of  them  into  a 
class,  and  they  will  rule  the  whole  society.  I 
have  seen  this  during  the  last  four  years.  I  want 
the  one  hundred  and  seven  men  here  present, 
representing  this  Church,  to  say  by  their  authority 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS,  283 

that  men  who  can  not  be  reclaimed  from  these 
wicked  associations  shall  go  out  to  the  world 
where  they  belong.  This  question  might  as  well 
be  faced  first  as  last;  for  the  whole  issue  i-s 
brought  before  us  in  this  amendment.  The  un- 
derlying idea  is  this:  Shall  this  General  Confer- 
ence open  the  door  for  every  class  to  say  whether 
they  will  tolerate  Masonry  in  its  multifarious 
forms;  or  shall  we  be  a  unit,  and  bear  our  testi- 
mony against  this  hydra-headed  evil?  By  your 
vote  on  this  amendment  you  will  decide  whether 
the  United  Brethren  Church  shall  tolerate  secrecy 
or  not.  We  must  meet  the  question;  and  we 
shall  never  have  peace  until  secrecy  is  conquered 
within  our  fold,  or  until  it  conquers  us.  The 
conflict  is  upon  us,  and  for  one  I  am  willing  ta 
face  it.  And  while  other  churches  are  being 
divided  and  torn  asunder, — some  taking  one  side 
and  some  another, — we,  if  we  live  up  to  our  early 
principles  and  training,  shall  be  free  from  all  dis- 
sensions of  that  kind.  I  understand  that  if  the 
original  paper  is  passed  without  amendment,  it 
will  most  surely  neutralize  and  nullify  the  law 
that  is  now  in  the  Discipline.  "Without  desiring 
to  impugn  men's  motives,  it  looks  as  if  that 
were  the  design.  I  can  easily  understand,  Mr. 
President,  how  men  exercising  the  authority  over 
a  congregation,  and  desiring  to  set  aside  the  Dis- 


284  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

cipline,  and  being  unwilling  to  bear  tlie  responsi- 
bility of  doing  so,  would  throw  tbe  responsibility 
on  the  class." 

The  amendment  was  sustained  by  a  vote  of 
seventy  against  thirty-one.  Whatever  any  one 
may  think  of  the  policy  of  the  amendment,  or  of 
the  merits  of  the  question  to  which  it  belonged, 
the  speech  by  which  it  was  supported,  it  must  be 
confessed,  was  strong,  and  prompted  by  a  deep 
knowledge  of  the  question  and  tendencies  in- 
volved, and  indicative  of  the  highest  form  of 
moral  courage  and  Christian  fidelity. 

Bishop  Edwards  had  been  one  of  the  vice- 
presidents  of  the  missionary  society  from  its  or- 
ganization, in  1853,  and  had  been  present  at  every 
regular  session  except  the  first.  The  General 
Conference  now  elected  him  president  of  the 
Board.  This  was  a  high  compliment,  especially 
when  taken  in  connection  with  the  fact  that 
when  elected  to  the  office  of  bishop,  at  this  ses- 
sion, he  received  a  higher  number  of  votes  than 
any  one  else.  These  two  facts  when  taken  to- 
gether clearly  indicate  how  deep  was  his  hold 
upon  the  aflections  and  confidence  of  the  Church. 

At  this  session  of  General  Conference  the  Ne- 
braska Conference  was  formed,  and  the  Cascade 
was  changed  to  Walla  Walla,  and  the  Canada  to 
the    Ontario    Cont'creiu'c.      Tlio    conference   pro- 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  286 

vided  also  for  the  uniou  of  the  Iowa  and  i!^ortb 
Iowa  confereuces. 

The  bishops  of  the  preceding  term  were  all 
re-elected.  Bishop  Edwards  was  sent  to  the  East, 
having  for  his  district  the  Erie,  Muskingum,  Ten- 
nessee, Alleghany,  Virginia,  Pennsylvania,  East 
Pennsylvania,  East  German,  and  Parkersburg 
conferences.  His  feelings  in  reference  to  his 
future  work  are  indicated  in  the  remarks  which 
he  made  at  the  close  of  the  General  Conference, 
some  of  which  are  as  follows:  "I  was  expecting 
to  be  sent  farther  west,  and  I  was  ready  to  go. 
I  am  essentially  a  western  man.  The  second  time 
I  was  born  was  in  the  West.  Ohio  was  then 
*  west.'  I  have  served  the  General  Conference 
twenty  -  eight  years — much  longer  than  I  could 
have  had  reason  to  expect.  I  confess  that  in 
all  this  time  I  have  not  felt  the  weight  of  an 
appointment  as  I  feel  this  one.  I  know  that  some 
of  the  delegates  consider  me  a  little  rigid;  but  I 
tell  you  I  intend  to  be  a  right  clever,  good  man. 
If  anything  bad  comes  into  my  heart  I  do  not  in- 
tend to  keep  it  there.  I  intend  to  live  so  that  I 
can  look  up  to  heaven  and  say,  '  I  did  the  best  I 
could.'  In  some  things,  though,  I  think  my  cross- 
ness has  been  overestimated,  and  I  think  that 
perhaps  I  am  not  as  bad  as  I  used  to  be.  But  I 
intend  to  oppose  sin  and  the  devil  everywhere; 


286  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

and  I  want  you  to  understand  that,  brethren.  I 
have  felt,  somehow,  during  this  General  Confer- 
ence, that  we  are  not  as  humble  and  prayerful  as 
we  ought  to  be.  I  pray  God  that  his  baptism 
may  come  down  upon  us,  and  make  us  what  we 
ought  to  be." 

In  August,  1873,  he  went  east  to  make  his 
home  in  Baltimore,  Maryland.  He  was  to  occupy 
the  residence  provided  for  the  bishop  of  the  East 
District.  He  had  spent  a  little  time  in  visiting 
and  attending  to  some  financial  matters,  dispos- 
ing of  his  home  in  Sonora,  and  so  forth. 

His  first  work  on  his  district  was  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania Conference — the  oldest  conference  in  the 
Church.  Ten  camp-meetings  were  appointed  for 
the  summer  of  1873.  Bishop  Edwards  attended 
the  Orrstown  Camp-meeting,  August  21.  His  feel- 
ings were  greatly  moved  in  approaching  his  new 
duties;  and  on  the  other  side  his  friends  were 
anxious  as  to  the  impression  which  he  would 
make,  while  others  were  simply  curious.  An  ap- 
pointment was  made  for  him  to  preach.  About 
ten  minutes  before  the  hour  arrived  he  was  seen 
on  his  knees  in  the  woods  in  secret  prayer.  He 
took  for  his  text  "Draw  nigh  unto  God,"  etc. 
For  forty  minutes  he  swayed  the  great  audience 
as  the  forest  is  swayed  by  the  mighty  tempest.  A 
well-known   minister   who   was    assisting  in  the 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  287 

meeting  said  of  the  sermon:  "The  conclusion 
of  this  sermon  was  the  most  effective  I  ever 
witnessed.  I  had  read  how  men  Uke  Whitefield 
and  Finney  moved  audiences,  but  here  I  witness- 
ed it."  On  the  hps  of  all  were  the  words,  "  What 
a  man  to  preach  the  gospel  Bishop  Edwards  is! " 
During  the  meeting  he  preached  four  regular  ser- 
mons. On  one  occasion,  after  the  dismissal  of 
the  congregation,  the  people  lingered  in  the  altar 
Binging  and  rejoicing.  The  preachers  in  the  stand 
were  also  happy,  and  shaking  hands.  The  bishop 
sat  looking  on  with  beaming  countenance.  Sud- 
denly he  rose  to  his  feet,  excLaiming,  "  I  must  get 
away  from  here.  If  I  stay  any  longer  I  must 
jump  and  praise  God,  and  if  I  do  that  I  am  as 
awkward  as  a  bear."  In  an  account  of  these 
meetings  furnished  by  the  bishop  to  the  Telescope 
he  said:  "'The  Lord  has  triumphed  gloriously; 
the  horse  and  his  rider  has  he  thrown  into  the 
sea.'  Every  day  was  a  triumph,  and  the  Holy 
Spirit  was  present  in  converting  and  sanctifying 
power.  We  left  this  consecrated  and  hallowed 
spot  with  our  souls  filled  with  praise." 

The  Erie  and  Muskingum  conferences,  holding 
their  sessions  in  September,  particularly  the  for- 
mer, were  occasions  of  great  spiritual  interest 
and  benefit. 

In  November  he  held  the  Tennessee  Confer- 


288  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

ence,  and  preached  four  times  in  that  mission- 
field. 

In  the  winter  and  spring  of  1874  he  attended, 
in  their  order,  the  AUegliany,  Virginia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, East  German,  East  Pennsylvania,  and 
Parkersburg  conferences. 

Few  knew  the  struggles  of  mind  with  which 
the  bishop  set  out  for  these  conferences;  none, 
perhaps,  the  extreme  depths  of  that  anguish.  If 
it  cost  him  so  much  to  come  up  to  an  ordi- 
nary appointment  for  preaching  and  other  occa- 
sions of  increased  importance,  it  is  not  strange 
that  his  whole  moral  nature  trembled  and  cried 
out  under  the  present  burden.  He  always  felt 
that  a  fault  lay  at  his  door  if  he  did  not  come  up 
to  any  duty  with  the  earnest  of  victory  already 
dilating  his  own  soul.  It  is  very  easy  to  assign 
ordinary  reasons  for  his  mental  agitation,  but 
only  the  superficial  would  ever  think  of  them. 
The  circumstances  were,  indeed,  peculiar.  The 
bishop  knew  that  one  reason  why  he  was  sent 
east  was  that  he  might  correct,  if  possible,  the 
very  general  disregard  of  the  restrictive  rule  on 
secret  societies  that  prevailed  in  some  of  the  con- 
ferences. He  knew  also  that  his  supposed  strenu- 
ousness  had  biased  many  minds  against  him.  His 
first  would  be  the  Alleghany.  "With,  perhaps,  a 
single  exception,  dissent  from  the  general  view 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  289 

of  the  Church  on  the  secrecy  question  was  un- 
derstood to  be  more  persistent  in  this  conference 
than  in  any  other.  But  Bishop  Edwards  did  not 
go  to  the  East  trembling  for  his  personal  success 
or  fearing  his  ability  to  maintain  the  principles 
of  the  Church.  He  did  not  have  the  feeling  that 
some  may  have  that  the  secrecy  rule  was  intend- 
ed merely  to  rid  the  Church  of  a  class  of  mem- 
bers not  in  harmony  with  the  Discipline.  This 
was  one  of  its  objects,  it  is  true,  but  with  him 
it  meant  more.  Down  deep  in  his  soul,  bound  up 
with  a  love  for  the  worst  of  sinners,  was  the  con- 
viction that  the  purity,  spirituality,  and  power  of 
the  Church  depended  on  a  wide  belt  between  the 
Church  and  the  world.  In  his  mind  the  secrecy 
rule  was  to  save,  and  not  to  destroy;  and  thus 
he  ever  represented  and  employed  it.  Can  he  go 
to  the  East,  not  with  a  mere  rule,  but  with  such  a 
conviction,  back  of  the  rule  and  such  a  life  and 
power  in  his  soul  as  shall  enable  him  with  the  co- 
operation of  those  to  whom  he  went,  to  create 
such  a  fund  of  motive  or  delicacy  of  life  in  the 
hearts  of  others,  as  shall  make  the  rule  a  savor 
of  life  unto  life?  If  we  do  not  enter  into  these 
thoughts,  we  may  yet  see  that  many  difficulties 
were  to  be  overcome,  and  hence  much  grace  waa 
needed.  If  his  had  been  an  ordinary  mind,  or  if 
he  had  put  forth  an  ordinary  effort,  he  would 


290  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

hardly  have  been  able  to  lead  his  audience  into 
the  unmixed  marrow  and  glory  of  gospel  truth, 
and  an  exulting  Christian  experience.  It  is  most 
gratifying  to  know  that  Bishop  Edwards  ob- 
tained the  inner  assurance  which  he  sought,  and 
that  his  work  in  the  East  may  be  set  down  as 
a  great  and  increasing  good.  His  reception  in  the 
Alleghany  Conference  was  not  simply  compli- 
mentary, but  enthusiastic.  True,  the  conference 
did  not  put  their  arms  around  him,  —  various 
reasons  might  have  prevented  that, — but  they 
honored  him  very  respectfully  as  their  bishop, 
and  as  Doctor  of  Divinity,  as  indicated  by  the  fol- 
lowing in  the  published  minutes:  "  The  doctor  is 
one  of  the  senior  bishops  of  the  Church,  and 
growing  quite  venerable  in  appearance.  He  is  an 
excellent  presiding  officer.  Bishop  Edwards  made 
many  strong  friends,  in  and  out  of  the  pulpit. 
"We  all  felt  pleased  with  our  new  bishop." 

The  bishop  certainly  lost  nothing  in  preaching 
ability  or  in  appreciative  audiences  by  being 
transferred  to  the  East.  His  administrative  abil- 
ity, likewise,  was  uniformly  commended. 

A  prominent  feature  at  the  different  confer- 
ences was  the  attention  given  to  centenary  facts 
and  interests,  the  year  1874  being  celebrated  by 
the  Church  as  the  one  hundredth  year  of  its  ex- 
istence.    Bishop  Edwards   enlisted  himself  very 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  291 

largely  in  this  feature  of  the  conference  sessions. 
Thus  he  manifested  a  diversity  of  aptitude  and 
a  wise  appreciation  of  the  many  conditions  of 
success  in  Christian  work.  His  report  for  1874 
closed  with  the  following  sentences :  "  In  the 
main  the  ministers  are  working  well,  and  the 
prospects  for  the  future  are  encouraging.  We 
are  praying  for  purity  and  peace,  and  an  increas- 
ing interest  on  the  subject  of  holiness.  A  Pente- 
costal baptism  on  all  our  ministers  and  people 
would  be  the  best  cure  for  all  our  present  evils. 
May  we  not  hope  and  pray  for  this,  believing 
that  we  shall  receive  it  during  this  centennial 
year?" 

In  the  spring  of  1874  he  started  on  a  second 
visit  to  the  conferences  on  the  Pacific  coast.  His 
experience  did  not  differ  much  on  this  visit  from 
what  it  had  been  on  the  first  trip.  The  work  on 
the  coast  was  prospering  somewhat,  but  not  as 
much  as  could  have  been  reasonably  expected. 
He  also  attended,  on  his  return,  the  Colorado 
Conference. 

But  the  "Walla  Walla  Conference  furnished  an 
episode  which  must  not  be  passed  over. 

Some  of  the  ministers  of  this  mission-confer- 
ence had  become  strangely  infected  with  a  spirit 
of  fanaticism  in  connection  with  the  subject  of 
sanctification.     Some  of  them  had  reached  the 


292  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

point  where  tliey  claimed  to  be  tlie  recipients  of 
immediate  revelations  from  God.  This  was  espe- 
cially so  with  the  younger  ministers,  some  of 
whom  came  to  conference  as  applicants  for  license 
to  preach.  Bishop  Edwards,  who  was  a  kind  of 
authority  in  most  parts  of  the  Church  on  the 
Bubject  of  sanctification,  was  boldly  told  by  a 
young  upstart  that  he  was  not  sanctified.  The 
conference  session  was  held  in  connection  with  a 
camp  -  meeting.  The  fanaticism  culminated  on 
the  Sabbath  of  the  conference.  Sabbath  after- 
noon some  of  the  ministers  held  a  meeting  at  one 
side  of  the  camp,  and  arranged  for  a  novel  even- 
ing service.  The  question  was  asked  as  to  who 
would  lead  the  meeting.  The  answer  was,  "The 
Lord  will  lead."  But  one  of  the  wildest  of  their 
number  was  to  preach  the  sermon.  This  man 
ranted  and  stormed  about  to  the  disgust  of 
all  decent  people.  During  the  meeting  it  was 
announced  that  it  had  been  revealed  to  the 
brother  that  the  bishop  would  be  converted  that 
night  or  else  the  Lord  would  take  him  away — 
cut  him  off.  But  the  bishop  was  not  converted 
to  either  the  new  views  or  to  the  new  way  of 
doing  things,  nor  was  he  cut  oft".  lie  sat  upright, 
calm,  and  thoughtful  while  the  zealots  were  mak- 
ing a  mourner's-bench  affair  over  the  matter  of 
his  sanctification.     He  was  grieved  and  mortified, 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  293 

but  said  little  or  nothing.  Monday  morning 
lie  told  those  who  had  taken  part  in  the  dis- 
graceful affair,  that  he  would  not  sign  a  license 
for  such  men.  He  told  them,  however,  that 
after  a  time,  if  they  hy  their  conduct  should 
be  deemed  worthy,  he  would  sign  and  inclose  to 
them  their  license.  This  very  clearly  indicated  to 
these  fanatical  young  preachers  that  the  bishop 
was  master  of  the  situation.  At  the  next  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  of  Missions  the  Walla  Walla 
Mission  -  conference  was  dissolved.  It  ought  to 
be  remarked  that  some  of  the  ministers  of  the 
conference  were  far  from  sympathizing  with  the 
prevailing  fanatical  spirit,  and  that  after  a  few 
years  the  conference  organization  was  restored 
with  advantage. 

The  work  of  the  fall  conferences  was  at  hand. 
A  visiting  minister  at  the  Erie  Conference  wrote 
the  following:  "Bishop  Edwards  seems  to  be 
■earnest  in  every  way  in  the  work  of  the  Church. 
His  counsels,  reproofs,  and  preaching  were  able, 
appropriate,  and  pious.  His  late  trip  to  the  Pa- 
cific coast  seems  to  have  had  a  tendency  to  invig- 
orate and  sharpen  him.  He  is  the  embodiment 
of  intelligence  and  Christian  zeal." 

The  remainder  of  the  fall  conferences,  and  also 
the  conferences  for  the  first  months  of  1875,  were 
■duly  held.  Some  of  his  sermons  deserve  special 
notice. 


294  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

One  of  the  most  impressive  sermons  lie  ever 
preaclied  was  at  the  Virginia  Conference,  held  at 
Eeedysville,  in  1875.  His  subject  was  the  char- 
acter of  Elijah.  This  was  his  favorite  theme.  He 
had  not  spoken  live  minutes  until  he  ascended  in 
an  outburst  of  eloquence  and  emotion,  which 
melted  and  charmed  the  entire  audience.  Many 
feared  that  he  had  begun  in  a  spirit  and  scope  of 
thought  from  which  he  would  have  to  descend. 
But  it  was  not  so.  Every  moment  seemed  to 
open  paths  of  richer  thought  and  more  striking 
illustration.  For  almost  an  hour  he  preached 
without  any  sign  of  weariness  or  of  losing  his 
magic  hold  upon  the  audience.  Toward  the  close 
of  the  sermon  he  described  the  ascension  of 
Elijah.  He  pictured  the  walk  of  Elijah  and 
Elisha.  Stopping  as  if  startled,  he  pointed  out 
the  chariot  of  fire  and  the  horses  of  fire.  The 
audience  could  see  the  chariot  sweeping  by  as  he 
showed  old  Elijah  stepping  within  it  and  being 
borne  heavenward.  And  then,  in  an  inimitable 
way,  turning  the  attention  upon  Elisha,  he  ex- 
claimed in  melting  tones,  "Oh,  if  I  had  been 
Elisha,  I  would  have  tried  to  get  on  too!"  'No 
one  but  he  could  have  uttered  such  a  sentiment; 
but  as  uttered  by  him,  it  was  the  climax  of  his 
wonderful  description. 

At  the   East  German    Conference  the   bishop 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWAKDS.  29& 

preached  a  quite  peculiar  sermon,  but  a  very 
powerful  one,  on  Jonali,  which  he  introduced 
substantially  as  follows:  "I  shall  take  for  my 
subject  this  morning  the  life  of  a  preacher  whose 
name  was  Jonah,  and  the  whole  book  of  Jonah 
shall  be  my  text.  A  very  great  while  ago  there 
was  a  conference.  The  bishop  who  presided  was 
the  Lord  Almighty,  and  the  only  preacher  pres- 
ent was  named  Jonah.  This  preacher,  by  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  bishop,  was  sent  to  Nineveh 
mission.  "When  the  appointment  was  made 
known  to  Jonah  he  said,  'ISTineveh  mission! 
Why!  that  is  a  very  unpromising  field.  Wo 
have  not  a  single  member  there,  and  I  shall  get 
no  support  at  all.  I  can  not  go  there!'  When 
he  thus  refused  to  take  his  appointment,  his  con- 
science troubled  him  so  that  he  concluded  that  a 
change  of  some  kind  would  be  necessary  to  re- 
lieve his  mind."  The  bitter  experience  of  Jonah, 
his  repentance,  his  entry  upon  his  work,  and  the 
results,  were  then  narrated  with  exceedingly 
fruitful  and  striking  applications. 

At  the  East  Pennsylvania  Conference  the  labor 
of  Bishop  Edwards  was  highly  appreciated.  The 
published  minutes  of  1875  contained  the  follow- 
ing: "At  10  A.  M.  Bishop  Edwards  occupied  the 
pulpit  and  preached  a  sermon  that  will  not  soon 
be  forgotten.     It  was  grand  living  truth,  told  in 


296  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

a  plain  simple  way,  and  accompanied  witli  the 
unction  from  on  high.  The  large  congregation 
gave  every  attention,  and  many  were  moved  to 
tears.     His  subject  was  the  character  of  Elijah." 

At  Parkersburg  Conference,  in  1875,  he  preach- 
ed on  the  Savior's  sayings  upon  the  cross,  a 
sermon  of  rare  excellence  and  power.  At  this 
conference  he,  perhaps,  felt  less  freedom  than  at 
the  other  conferences,  as  indicated  in  letters  to 
prominent  ministers  of  that  conference,  copies  of 
which  he  kept. 

At  the  Mt.  Ziou  Camp-meeting,  in  1874,  a 
number  of  ministers  and  a  few  laymen  met  under 
the  opening  branches  of  a  large  tree,  and  deter- 
mined upon  forming  an  association  for  the  pur- 
pose of  promoting  the  cause  of  holiness.  Bishop 
Edwards  was  present,  and  assisted  by  his  counsels. 
It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  he  ever  wavered 
in  his  devotion  to  the  cause  of  holiness  as  held 
and  expressed  by  him  early  in  his  ministry,  or 
that  he  withdrew  his  sympathy  from  those  who 
seemed  to  be  advocating  the  doctrine  in  a  true  or 
scriptural  way.  Where  he  saw  fanaticism  rising, 
he  felt  rather  to  mourn  in  silence  than  to  seem  to 
be  opposing  what  he  believed  to  be  a  scriptural 
experience.  Yet,  on  occasions  when  he  deemed 
it  proper  or  necessary,  he  placed  himself  strongly 
against  distorted  views,  spurious  experiences,  and 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  297 

a  mere  dogmatic  tendency,  as  occurring  too  fre- 
quently among  professors  of  holiness. 

Bishop  Edwards'  report  for  1875  is  quite  fall, 
and  the  following  extract  will  be  an  excellent 
contribution  to  our  knowledge  of  the  district: 

"It  is  but  just  to  say  in  behalf  of  the  itinerants  of  the 
East  District  in  general,  that  they  are  a  good  class  of 
men  and  faithful  workers.  They  are  men  of  one  work, 
pure  morals,  and  sound  doctrine.  They  will  compare 
very  well  with  the  same  number  of  men  anywhere  as 
toiling  itinerants.  I  speak  not  now  on  the  administration 
of  Discipline  on  that  one  'vexed'  and  vexing  question,  which 
is  to  trouble  us  for  some  time  to  come.  Yet  I  am  glad  to 
say  that  personally  the  ministers  stand  aloof  from  connec- 
tion with  secret  orders,  and  by  moral  suasion  try  to  keep 
their  members  out  of  such  entanglements,  though  more 
might  be  done  in  this  respect.  My  hope  and  prayer  is  that 
those  who  have  been  led  astray  by  unwise  counsels  may,  by 
the  teachings  of  God's  word  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  be  led  into 
all  truth.  The  nearer  we  get  to  Christ  and  the  more  of  his 
Spirit  we  possess,  the  more  will  all  personal  animosity  disap- 
pear from  our  discussions  and  the  more  completely  shall  we 
be  united  against  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil,  and 
thus  be  enabled  to  build  up  a  holy  and  spiritual  church." 

Thus  Bishop  Edwards  completed  two  full 
rounds  upon  his  district.  His  work  was  inces- 
sant. Camp  -  meetings  and  extra  tours  of  visit- 
ation and  preaching  tilled  up  the  interims  of 
the  conference  sessions.  He  also  delivered  ad- 
dresses on  various  public  occasions,  and  wrote  for 


298  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

the  Beligious  Telescope  on  the  sinful  and  pernicious 
effects  of  connection  with  secret  societies,  with  a 
view  to  create  a  sounder  sentiment  on  this  subject 
and  with  the  hope  of  leading  those  who  had 
become  entangled  out  of  the  snare.  In  1874, 
including  a  distance  traveled  of  nine  thousand 
two  hundred  and  eighty-six  miles  on  his  visit  to 
the  Pacific  coast,  the  entire  distance  traveled  by 
him  was  twenty-one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
fourteen  miles.  In  1875  the  distance  traveled 
was  twelve  thousand  two  hundred  and  eleven 
miles.  Many  incidents  might  be  given  of  the 
work  of  these  last  years;  but  whatever  is  not 
specially  characteristic  may  be  passed  by. 

We  know  that  Bishop  Edwards  was  kind  and 
gentle;  but  he  could  be  terrible  in  reproof  when 
duty  seemed  to  require  it.  Ilis  conferences  were 
blessed  in  having  a  suitable  method  of  punish- 
ment for  the  refractory  or  derelict  always  at 
hand,  and  they  often  took  the  convenient  course 
of  referring  those  judged  deserving  of  censure  to 
tlie  "admonition  of  the  bishop.*' 

While  the  bisliop  was  on  the  train  with  a  num- 
ber of  ministers,  returning  from  a  recent  confer- 
ence session,  a  young  preacher  began  to  tell  him 
how  great  was  the  dissatisfaction  over  the  appoint-* 
ments  of  the  preachers  by  the  Stationing  Com- 
mittee.     Brother   A.   and   Brother  B.  were    not 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  299 

going  to  tlieir  fields,  and  Brother  C.  was  not 
likely  to  go;  old  Brother  S.  had  just  told  him 
that  he  would  not  go.  The  way  he  represented 
things,  the  picture  was  awful  dark.  The  good 
bishop  was  severely  tried  —  so  much  so,  indeed,, 
that  he  seemed  unable  to  stand  it  any  longer.  It 
happened  that  the  bishop,  the  young  preacher, 
and  another  minister  got  oft'  the  cars  at  the  same 
place.  As  they  started  up  through  the  town,  the 
bishop  proceeded  to  administer  a  terrible  rebuke. 
He  told  the  young  man  that  his  besetting  sin  was 
exaggeration,  using,  though,  a  stronger  and  more 
appropriate  word.  He  had  himself  just  talked 
to  Brother  S.,  and  knew  that  he  was  going  to  his 
field.  The  accompanying  minister,  who  had 
deemed  it  best  to  fall  behind,  on  overtaking  the 
bishop  after  the  young  man  had  reached  his  stop- 
ping-place, said  to  him,  "Bishop,  that  was  rather 
•a  severe  drubbing  which  you  gave  that  brother." 
The  response  came  instantly,  "  I  do  not  wish  ta 
be  catechised  over  this  matter.  The  brother  has 
long  needed  a  plain  reproof,  and  it  was  hard 
enough  for  me  to  give  it."  The  answer  indicated 
that  the  reproofs  of  the  bishop  were  those  of  a 
friend,  and  not,  as  some  may  have  at  times  sup- 
posed, the  mere  pastime  of  a  rigid  mind. 

At  a  certain  camp-meeting,  during  prayer,  and 
while  penitents  were  at  the  altar,  two  or  three 


300  LIFE    OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

preachers  on  the  stand  were  engaged  in  conversa- 
tion, speaking  so  that  they  could  be  heard  by 
those  about  them.  The  bishop,  who  was  kneel- 
ing at  one  end  of  the  stand,  rising  from  his  knees 
at  the  close  of  the  prayer,  went  to  the  preachers 
and  said,  "  I  am  ashamed  of  you.  The  idea  of 
United  Brethren  preachers  acting  so  inconsist- 
ently!    I  am  ashamed  of  you." 

At  one  of  the  conferences  a  young  man,  who 
had  been  appointed  to  preach,  preached  a  sermon 
exclusively  to  ministers.  When  the  services  were 
over  the  bishop  shook  hands  with  the  young 
preacher,  and  holding  to  his  hand  said,  "See  here, 
brother,  what  am  I  going  to  do  on  Sabbath? " 
The  preacher  asked  him  what  he  meant.  "  Why, 
you  have  preached  the  conference  sermon  to- 
night, and  it  is  usually  expected  that  the  bishop 
will  do  that  on  Sunday  morning,"  was  the  reply. 

At  one  of  the.  sessions  of  Alleghany  Confer- 
ence an  applicant  for  license  laid  great  stress  on 
his  "call"  to  the  ministry.  Some  members  made 
remarks  which  were  taken  by  the  applicant  as 
making  light  of  his  "cull."  This  troubled  him; 
so  the  next  morning,  before  breakfast,  he,  with 
many  misgivings,  went  to  the  bishop's  stopping- 
place  and  again  rehearsed  liis  call.  The  bishop 
placed  his  hands  on  the  young  man's  head  and 
fsaid,  "  I  only  wish  that  more  could  say  as  much 
of  their  call  to  the  ministry." 


LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  801 

In  April,  1875,  Bisliop  Edwards  attended  the 
meeting  of  the  Board  of  Bishops,  at  Westerville, 
Ohio.  At  this  meeting  it  was  decided  that  there 
is  no  authority  in  the  Discipline  for  granting 
license  to  preach  to  women.  This  was  in  har- 
mony with  a  decision  long  before  given  by  Bishop 
Edwards.  It  was  also  resolved  that  the  clause  of 
the  Constitution  specifying  that  changes  could 
not  be  made  except  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the 
whole  society,  which  clause  had  been  referred  to 
the  bishops  for  specific  interpretation,  should  be 
referred  back  to  the  General  Conference,  the  bish- 
ops not  being  able  to  agree.  At  this  meeting  the 
bishops  issued  an  address  in  which  the  difierent 
interests  of  the  Church  at  large  were  specifically 
remembered.     The  address  closed  as  follows: 

"We  would  most  earnestly  urge  upon  you  the  importance 
of  harmony  among  yourselves.  '  A  house  divided  against 
itself  can  not  stand.'  To  this  end  we  should  pray  often  for 
one  another.  We  should  put  the  most  charitable  construc- 
tion on  one  another's  motives  and  actions.  We  should  avoid 
evil  surmisihgs,  and  forgive  from  our  hearts  the  trespasses 
of  others  as  we  hope  God  in  mercy  to  forgive  us.  Let  us 
feel  that  in  Christ  we  are  one."  : 

In  May,  Bishop  Edwards,  by  special  arrange- 
ment, attended  the  Ontario  Conference  in  Bishop 
"Weaver's  stead,  and  then  proceeded  to  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  of  Missions,  at  Dayton,  Ohio. 


802  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

He  was  also  present  at  the  commencemeut  exer- 
cises of  Union  Biblical  Seminary,  and  gave  the 
charge  to  the  graduating  class.  In  his  address  to 
the  class  he  told  them  that  they  should  have  the 
courage  to  tell  the  truth,  whether  palatable  or 
not  to  their  hearers.  He  said:  "You  must  not  be 
like  a  certain  colored  preacher,  in  the  days  of  sla- 
very. When  he  was  questioned  by  his  ecclesias- 
tical superior  as  to  whether  he  had  preached 
against  this,  that,  and  the  other  sin,  he  got  along 
admirably  until  he  was  asked  if  he  had  preached 
against  stealing  chickens,  the  prevalent  oft'ense 
among  the  slaves.  The  colored  preacher  answer- 
ed, '  ISTo.  Whenever  I  attempt  to  preach  against 
that  sin  it  brings  a  coldness  over  my  audience.'  " 
While  speaking  at  the  funeral  of  Rev.  J. 
Hofi'man,  who  died  during  commencement'  week, 
the  bishop  spoke  of  himself  as  follows :  "  My 
health  has  been  so  good  during  these  late  years 
that  I  began  to  think,  contrary  to  all  my  earlier 
expectations,  that  I  might  be  good  for  twenty 
years'  service  yet.  But  the  death  of  Brother 
Raber,  of  the  Pennsylvania  Conference,  which 
occurred  during  the  last  session  of  his  confer- 
ence, has  aflectcd  me  so  that  I  have  been  caused 
to  think  that  my  time,  after  all,  may  not  be  very 
long.  Just  a  short  time  before  his  death  some 
one  had  said  to  Brother  Raber,  '  It  may  not  be 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  303 

very  long  until  our  work  will  be  done.'  'Not  so/ 
said  Brother  Raber,  '  You  and  I  belong  to  long- 
lived  families.  We  shall  not  go  yet.'  But  how 
soon  and  suddenly  he  was  taken  away!  This  in- 
cident was  what  impressed  me." 

Bishop  Edwards'  health  continued  apparently 
good  until  about  the  time  when  he  commenced 
his  fall  conferences.  Even  then  his  devotion  to 
his  work  and  his  fixed  and  determined  method  of 
labor  carried  him  forward  with  no  diminution  in 
his  efforts,  or  of  the  work  accomplished.  He 
attended  the  Erie,  Muskingum,  and  Tennessee 
conferences,  and  presided  and  preached  with  his 
accustomed  ability. 

In  November  he  wrote  an  article  for  the  JRelig- 
ious  TelescojJe  on  the  "Fullness  of  Christ."  In  the 
article  he  quoted,  among  other  expressions,  the 
following:  "  Of  his  fullness  have  all  we  received, 
and  grace  for  grace."  "  That  we  all  come  unto 
a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of 
the  fullness  of  Christ."  "My  God  shall  supply 
all  your  need  according  to  his  riches  in  glory  by 
Jesus  Christ."  He  concluded  as  follows :  "  Chris- 
tian brethren,  here  is  a  theme  for  you — one  on 
which  you  may  profitably  dwell.  It  is  vast 
enough  to  engage  your  best  faculties  and  greatest 
learning,  and  is  worthy  of  your  highest  ambition. 
Study  the  character  of  your  blessed  Master,  and 


304  LIFE   OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

remember  that  you  are  bound  as  a  Christian  to 
walk  as  he  walked.  This  you  may  and  can  do, 
not  by  resolutions,  or  merely  trying  to  conform 
your  external  life  to  this  standard,  but  by  seeking 
Christ  himself  as  an  indwelling  presence.  This 
presence  he  has  promised  to  his  faithful  follow- 
ers. When  you  have  received  of  his  fullness, 
when  he  comes  and  brings  the  Father  with  him, 
and  makes  his  abode  with  you,  you  will  begin  to 
understand  something  of  the  meaning  of  the 
great  promises  of  the  Bible,  and  of  the  exhaust- 
less  fullness  there  is  in  Christ." 

In  December  he  ]3ublished  an  article  on  sinful 
anger.  He  drew  the  lines  very  close  against  much 
that  many  are  accustomed  to  treat  with  indul- 
gence. 

He  was  enabled  to  attend  all  his  winter  and 
spring  conferences,  and  thus  complete  his  third 
round.  At  the  Alleghany  Conference  he  preach- 
ed what  was  pronounced  an  "  excellent  sermon," 
and  delighted  the  people  with  one  of  his  "  hap- 
piest efibrts."  His  subject  was  Elijah.  It  seems 
that  the  Lord  directed  his  mind  to  this  theme 
very  frequently  in  the  later  years  of  his  life.  The 
character  and  career  of  this  grand  old  prophet  of 
ancient  times  seemed  to  give  ample  scope  to  the 
mind  and  heart  of  the  bishop.  It  was  a  perfect 
treat  to  hear  him  while  dwelling  upon  the  moral 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  305 

grandeur  of  the  cliaracter  of  Elijah;  his  lofty 
zeal;  his  intimacy  with  God;  his  superiority  to 
ease,  suffering,  and  persecution;  his  power  to 
work  miracles;  and,  above  all,  "  how  he  stood  up 
as  a  fire,  and  whose  word  burned  as  a  lamp." 
And  then  while  he  drew  the  pictures,  so  vivid 
and  life-like,  of  Elijah's  translation  into  heaven, 
the  effect  produced  upon  his  audience  beggared 
all  description.  All  intervening  time  seemed  to 
be  lost  while  he  portrayed  this  sublime  scene. 
Ko  one  could  hear  him  on  such  occasions  without 
intense  emotion.  How  could  it  be  otherwise,  when 
the  veritable  Elijah  seemed  to  ascend  into  heaven, 
and  that,  too,  in  order  to  assure  good  men  of  their 
future  existence  in  a  state  of  glory  and  felicity. 
But  the  time  comes  apace  when  the  good  bishop 
himself  will  realize  all  the  glories  he  so  frequent- 
ly and  eloquently  portrayed. 

At  the  Virginia  Conference  he  was  quite  indis- 
posed; but  he  was  favored  with  the  assistance  of 
Bishop  Glossbrenner.  Eev.  W.  J.  Shuey,  who 
was  also  present,  wrote  a  communication  for  the 
Religious  Telescope  in  which  the  following  oc- 
curred: 

'*  It  was  the  lot  of  Bishop  Edwards  to  be  seriously  aflBicted 
during  a  part  of  the  session.  Age  and  hard  work  are  mak- 
ing marked  inroads  upon  the  strength  of  Bishop  Edwards, 
and   a  faithful  and    indomitable  servant  of   God  and  the 

30 


306  LIFE   OF    BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

Church  will  before  long  lay  down  his  armor  and  rest  from 
his  labors." 

He  next  went  to  the  Pennsylvania  and  East 
German  conferences.  At  the  East  Pennsylvania 
Conference  he  presided,  but  was  unable  to  preach 
on  Sabbath.  Rev.  J.  B.  Resler  preached  the 
conference  sermon. 

The  last  conference  attended  by  Bishop  Ed- 
wards was  the  Parkersburg,  which  met  at  Park- 
ersburg,  West  Virginia,  March  15,  1876.  He 
labored  under  great  affliction,  but  presided  during 
the  session,  and  on  Sabbath  preached,  though  in 
an  abbreviated  form,  on  Elijah,  his  favorite  theme. 
At  this  session  he  ruled  against  sending  before 
the  committee  an  applicant  for  license  to  preach, 
who  was  understood  to  be  connected  with  the 
Odd-fellows.  His  ruling  in  the  case  was  appealed 
from,  and  the  appeal  sustained  by  the  conference. 
Manifestly  the  bishop  should  have  received  the 
support  of  the  conference — not  for  his  sake  alone, 
but  more  especially  for  the  honor  ancl  integrity  of 
the  Church  he  so  nobly  represented, — in  his  de- 
cision. Without  saying  more,  the  action  of  the 
conference,  it  must  be  confessed,  was  very  unfor- 
tunate. At  any  rate,  it  was  so  viewed  throughout 
the  Church  as  soon  as  the  facts  in  tlie  case  were 
made  public.  It  must  be  remembered,  however, 
that  there  was  no  personal  disrespect  intended  by 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  307 

this  action  against  the  authority  of  the  bishop. 
He  was,  in  fact,  veiy  highly  esteemed  by  all  the 
members  of  the  conference.  The  resistance  offered 
was  not  personal,  but  official.  The  bishop  under- 
stood it  to  be  a  deUberate  attempt  to  set  at 
naught  the  rule  of  the  Church  on  secret  societies. 
It  was  this  view  of  the  case  which  so  deeply 
affected  him.  ITor  is  it  too  much  to  say  that  this 
action  of  Parkersburg  Conference  was  the  occa- 
sion of  a  sorrow  which  he  carried  to  his  grave. 
He  bravely  bore  the  burden,  however,  using  hia 
oft-repeated  expression,  "  The  Lord  reigns."  On 
his  leaving  the  conference,  broken  in  health,  a 
brother  said,  "  Bishop,  when  you  go  home  take  a 
good  rest."  The  reply  was  characteristic — "I 
must  work  now."  His  prayer  was,  "  Let  me  cease 
to  live  and  cease  to  work  at  the  same  time."  But 
the  "beginning  of  the  end"  had  already  come. 

In  returning  to  Baltimore  it  was  necessary  for 
him  to  pass  a  night  on  the  cars.  The  weather 
was  cold,  and  he  cast  himself  down  on  a  seat 
near  the  stove  and  fell  asleep.  His  brain  was 
fevered,  and  his  mind  seemed  to  wander,  during 
this  long  night's  travel,  and  at  times  was  unable  to 
<iirect  itself.  In  the  night  he  found  himself  stand- 
ing in  the  midst  of  the  excited  passengers,  repeat- 
ing his  conference  sermon.  His  own  voice  finally 
awakened  him,  and  after  facing  the  people  for  a 


808  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

moment,  he  turned  away  without  saying  a  word, 
and  left  his  fellow-passengers  to  their  reflections 
upon  this  strange  scene. 

He  reached  his  home  in  a  broken-down  condi- 
tion, but  was  very  slow  in  giving  up  to  be  retired 
from  the  post  of  duty.  It  might  be  said  of  him 
that  he  closed  his  days,  not  with  his  eyes  fixed 
upon  the  glorious  hope  before  him,  but  turned 
backward  upon  the  field  of  action.  He  had  no- 
fears  as  to  the  future;  but  his  constant  inquiry 
was,  "What  more  can  I  do  for  the  Master's  cause? 
"It  will  be  time  enough  to  think  of  going  to 
heaven  when  my  work  is  done,"  said  he.  When 
urged  to  be  quiet  and  take  rest  the  reply  was,  "  I 
must  work  now." 

Just  about  the  time  when  he  was  closing  up 
his  round  of  the  conferences  he  wrote  his  last 
article  for  the  BcUgious  Telescope.  His  caption 
was,  "Too  Slow."  Always  seeking  some  practical 
good,  his  remarks  rn  this  article  were  directed  by 
the  same  spirit.     Consider  the  following: 

"Some  preachers  are  often,  if  not  always,  behind  time. 
What  will  become  of  such  men?  They  will  get  so  far  behind 
that  Bome  passinj;  event  will  knock  their  heads  off.  Such 
men  must  wake  up  and  put  on  more  steam,  or  they  will 
founder  at  sea,  or  stall  on  the  grade  of  life.  They  can  not 
be  useful  anywhere,  and  hence  must  be  put  on  the  shelf. 
Bome  of  these  times  they  will  be  asleep  at  roll-call,  and 
their  names  will  be  struck  from  the  list.    Brother,  move  ou 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  309 

a  little  faster;  jog  up  a  little — yes,  a  good  deal.     Make  your- 
flelf  useful,  and  you  will  always  have  a  place." 

It  has  been  supposed  by  eome  that  a  change 
took  place  in  the  mind  of  Bishop  Edwards  dur- 
ing the  last  few  years  of  his  life  in  respect  to  the 
restrictive  rule  of  the  Church  on  the  subject  of 
secret  societies.  For  this  there  is  no  ground;  but 
on  the  contrary,  there  is  abundant  evidence  of  his 
adherence  to  the  principle  of  a  prohibitory  rule. 
This  is  seen  in  addresses  delivered  and  letters 
written  on  the  subject,  after  he  went  east,  and 
but  a  short  time  before  his  death.  We  have, 
moreover,  the  unqualified  testimony  of  Mrs.  Ed- 
wards, who  is  still  alive,  to  the  same  effect. 

By  the  time  the  bishop  reached  home  he  was 
almost  completely  exhausted,  and  under  the  power 
of  his  disease.  From  the  first  it  was  feared  that 
his  malad}^,  a  mysterious  affection  of  the  head, 
malignantly  fixing  itself  upon  the  brain,  would 
terminate  fatally.  He  sufl'ered  much,  but  was 
never  heard  to  complain.  His  devotion  to  his 
great  life-work  and  the  welfare  of  the  Church 
was  never  more  conspicuous  than  during  his  sick- 
ness. 

Said  the  bishop  one  day  to  Rev.  J.  H.  Young, 
who  had  called  to  see  him,  "  Brother  Young,  can 
you  pray  the  prayer  of  faith?  If  you  can,  I  want 
you  to  kneel  right  down  here  and  ask  the  Lord 


310  LIFE    OF   BlSnOP    EDWARDS. 

to  make  me  well."  Said  Brother  Young,  "  I  can 
ask  the  Lord  to  restore  you  if  it  is  his  will.'* 
*'  Oh,"  said  the  bishop,  "  I  can  get  hundreds  in 
Baltimore  to  do  that;  but  that  is  not  what  I 
mean."  What  he  did  mean  might  be  understood, 
perhaps,  from  the  case  of  his  own  prayer  offered 
at  a  camp-meeting,  in  the  previous  August,  in 
behalf  of  Brother  J.  Hoke,  who  was  suffering 
under  a  severe  and  alarming  prostration.  Said 
the  bishop  at  that  time,  "  There,  Brother  Hoke, 
under  that  tree,  I  was  praying  this  morning  for 
you;  and  there  the  Lord  assured  me  that  you 
will  sret  well.  I  never  am  mistaken  when  receiv- 
ing  such  assurances."  The  prayer  was  signally 
answered  in  Brother  Hoke's  slow  but  steady  re- 
covery. 

As  the  hope  of  getting  well  and  of  a  longer 
term  of  service  became  less,  the  spirit  of  Bishop 
Edwards  exj)ressed  itself  in  the  following  utter- 
ence,  which  more  than  anything  else  may  be  re- 
ceived as  his  last  testimony  and  message  to  the 
Church:  "  If  it  might  be  the  Lord's  will,  I  would 
like  to  live  to  preach  awhile  yet.  I  would  preach, 
as  never  before,  salvation  by  faith  alone.  Oh, 
the  church  has  so  much  machinery,  and  there  is 
such  a  disposition  to  interpose  so  many  things  be- 
tween inquiring  souls  and  Christ!  Oh,  I  would 
tell  them  salvation  is  by  faith  in  Christ  alone.     I 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  311 

see  this  now  as  never  before,  and  I  would  like  to 
live  and  preach  it." 

But  his  work  was  done.  This  sad  fact  became 
more  and  more  apparent  as  the  days  and  weeks 
passed  by.  His  suffering  was  intense  and  pro- 
tracted; but  he  bore  it  all  as  a  Christian.  The 
very  best  medical  service  in  the  gift  of  the  pro- 
fession, in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  was  employed 
to  give  relief  and  save  his  life,  but  without  effect. 
Surrounded  by  his  family  and  a  number  of  his 
loved  and  trusted  friends  of  the  Church,  he 
breathed  his  last,  June  6,  1876.  Great  anxiety 
had  been  felt  in  respect  to  his  recovery,  and 
everywhere  in  the  Church  the  news  of  his  death 
was  received  with  feelings  of  deep  personal  grief 
and  a  profound  sense  of  the  loss  that  had  been 
sustained.  Accompanied  by  the  stricken  family, 
Rev.  S.  A.  Mowers  and  J.  Hoke,  who  had  been 
much  with  the  bishop  during  his  sickness,  and  a 
number  of  sympathizing  friends,  the  remains 
were  brought  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  taken  to  the 
First  United  Brethren  Church,  where  the  funeral 
took  place.  The  officiating  minister,  a  life-long 
friend  of  the  deceased,  could  do  little  more  than 
give  expression  to  the  sense  of  loss  and  personal 
grief  which  filled  his  own  heart.  Bishop  Weaver 
and  Rev.  S.  A.  Mowers  followed  with  interesting 
remarks.    The  attendance  was  large  and  the  serv- 


812  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

ices  were  deeply  impressive.  The  interment  took 
place  in  "Woodland  Cemetery,  the  beautiful  bury- 
ing ground  near  the  city  of  Dayton.  Not  long 
afterward  a  subscription  for  a  monument  was 
opened,  and  through  the  grateful  and  generous 
contributions  coming  from  all  parts  of  the  Church, 
a  handsome  and  becoming  monument  of  Scotch 
granite  was  erected  at  the  head  of  the  grave 
where  repose  the  mortal  remains  of  Bishop  Ed- 
wards, awaiting  the  resurrection  of  the  just. 

The  annual  conferences  of  the  East  District, 
and  many  in  other  parts  of  the  Church,  in  their 
next  ensuing  sessions,  devoted  a  liberal  amount 
of  time  to  appreciative  and  impressive  memorial 
exercises.  Bishop  Glossbrenner,  on  the  first  Sab- 
bath morning  during  the  next  General  Confer- 
ence session,  by  request,  delivered  a  fitting  me- 
morial sermon  on  the  life  and  character  of  his  de- 
parted friend  and  colleague,  using  as  his  text  the 
following  appropriate  words:  "For  he  was  a 
good  man,  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  of 
faith."  Every  one  who  heard  the  sermon  feh 
tliat  it  was  fit  that  such  a  man  as  the  departed 
bishop  should  be  held  ii[)  in  such  a  simple,  script- 
ural portrait  as  the  sermon  presented. 

The  plan  throughout  this  biography  has  been, 
for  the  most  part,  to  present  facts,  and  let  them 
make  their  own  impression,  and  in  as  many  cases 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  313 

as  possible  to  allow  the  noble  subject  of  tbe  biog- 
raplij,  through  his  own  sayings  and  through  per- 
sonal incidents,  to  present  the  many  sides  of  his 
mind  and  the  recesses  of  his  heart.  If  at  any 
time  the  author  has  erred  in  his  judgment,  he  has 
certainly  placed  means  in  the  hands  of  the  reader 
for  forming  a  proper  opinion. 

But  little  in  the  way  of  summing  up  or  review- 
ing needs  to  be  done.  Yet  we  must  linger  a  little 
under  the  sacred  influence  of  the  presence  that 
has  gone  out  from  among  us,  and  turn  our  eyes 
once  more  down  into  the  valley,  torn  by  the 
plucking  up  of  this  mighty  oak  of  the  Lord, 
under  whose  spreading  boughs,  in  the  years  past, 
so  many  have  found  goodly  shelter. 

Bishop  Edwards,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was 
one  month  and  one  da}'  over  sixty  years  old.  He 
had  spent  just  two  weeks  more  than  forty-one 
years  in  the  ministry,  twenty -seven  of  these 
years  being  spent  in  the  bishop's  oiEce.  During 
these  years,  as  traveling  preacher,  editor,  bishop, 
and  member  of  the  various  general  boards,  in 
labor,  official  duty,  or  administering  any  trust,  ho 
was  never  charged  with  delinquency  or  inten- 
tional fault.  Those  who  knew  him  best  were  al- 
ways the  most  ready  to  testify  how  pure  he  was 
in  personal  character.  In  this  respect  he  was 
ever  regarded  as  among  the  foremost.    Christiana 


314  LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

may  well  congratuliite  themselves  that  so  pure  a 
character  has  existed  to  adorn  the  walks  of  life. 
ISlo  one  ever  questioned  the  purity  of  his  motives 
or  designs. 

He  was  favored,  physically,  with  a  strong  con- 
stitution. His  large,  stoutly-built  form,  penetrat- 
ing eye,  frank  and  honest  face,  could  not  fail  to- 
make  an  impression  at  first  siglit.  He  kept  his 
person  and  attire  clean  and  neat.  It  may  be  said 
that  he  was  careful  and  exact  in  this  rpspect,  but 
not  over-nice.  He  sought  to  appear  neat  and 
comely  not  alone  for  his  own  sake,  but  in  part  to 
set  an  example  to  young  ministers. 

After  what  has  been  given  in  the  preceding 
pages  it  is  unnecessary  to  speak  at  much  length 
of  the  power  of  his  mind  or  of  his  capacity  for 
work.  This  much  may  be  said,  however,  that  no 
one  could  be  in  his  presence  any  considerable 
length  of  time  without  feeling  the  superior  vigor 
of  his  mind,  and,  especially,  the  keenness  of  hia 
moral  perceptions.  And  in  taking  even  a  cur- 
sory view  of  his  life  and  labors,  we  can  not  but 
feel  amazed  at  his  power  of  endurance.  Tireless 
and  persistent,  he  worked  for  the  Master's  cause 
to  the  last.  Nothing  but  death  itself  could  quench 
his  zeal  or  cut  short  his  struggles  to  save  souls 
and  preserve  the  purity  of  the  Church. 

"While  rigid,  and,  it  may  be   admitted,  some- 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  815 

times  harsh  in  his  bearing  toward  men,  his  heart 
had  the  tenderness  of  a  child.  A  little  more  than 
a  year  before  he  died,  at  a  time  when  the  four 
bishops  were  together,  he  said  to  his  associates 
that  he  had  an  incident  which  occurred  on  a  rail- 
way train  that  he  would  like  to  read  if  he  could. 
"  I  have  never,"  said  he,  "  been  able  to  read  it 
through  without  breaking  down."  He  produced 
the  incident  in  the  form  of  a  scrap,  and  read  it 
through,  but  during  the  reading  broke  down  a 
number  of  times.  The  touching  incident  waa 
written  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Dosh,  of  the  West  Dea 
Moines  Conference,  and  was  first  published  in 
the  Religious  Telescope,  and  afterward  published 
and  re-published  under  various  auspices.  In  his 
last  years  the  finer  elements  of  his  social  nature 
manifested  themselves  more  and  more,  and  hia 
personal  attachments,  which  were  always  ardent, 
became  more  tender.  He,  of  course,  was  not  in 
harmony  with  any  movement  or  tendency  of 
things  which  seemed  to  antagonize  those  princi- 
ples which  were  dear  to  him  all  through  life.  Nor 
did  he  cease  to  assert  and  maintain  his  long-cher- 
ished convictions,  as  some  have  incorrectly  affirm- 
ed. He,  nevertheless,  became  increasingly  kind 
and  conciliatory  toward  those  who  held  views  dif- 
ferent from  his  own.  This  was  very  observable 
during  the  last  few  years  and  months  of  his  life. 


S16  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

Through  all  his  life  he  practiced  a  tender- 
hearted and  sympathetic  benevolence.  At  least 
for  tweuty-tivc  years  of  his  active  work  in  the 
ministry  this  was  his  method  of  firivinsr.  The 
5th  of  May,  1851,  he  recorded  in  his  diary  a 
solemn  promise  to  thenceforth  give  one  tenth  of 
all  his  income  for  benevolent  purposes.  lie  ob- 
served this  promise,  tithing  even  what  he  receiv- 
ed as  marriage  fees  and  what  Mrs.  Edwards 
received  for  sewing.  He  kept  this  rule  till  the 
time  of  his  death,  the  yearly  tithes  of  the  last 
three  years  being  a  little  over  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars.  His  sympathy  for  the  distressed  and 
destitute  was  large  and  unvarying.  He  did  not 
stifle  benevolence  with  the  inquiry  as  to  the  cause 
of  the  wretchedness,  or  the  blame,  real  or  sup- 
posed, of  those  appealing  to  him  for  aid,  or  as  to 
whether  the  duty  of  yielding  relief  might  not 
belong  to  another.  He  assisted  church -enter- 
prises uniformly  out  of  his  "  dedicated  funds," 
but  his  benevolence  was  not  confined  by  denomi- 
national wants.  He  freely  gave  of  bis  scanty 
means  outside  these  limits. 

Composure  and  serenity  of  mind  were  marked 
features  in  his  life  and  character.  "With  his  ever- 
recurring  maxim,  "  The  Lord  reigns,"  he  put  the 
most  troublesome  fears  aside,  and,  on  many  occa- 
eions,  re-assured  his  doubting  brethren.  "Truth," 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS.  817 

he  would  say,  "  is  imperishable  and  it  must  pre- 
vail." Many  despondent  and  doubting  souls  he 
led  into  light  and  joy  by  urging  the  faitlifulness 
of  the  promises  of  God.  His  own  faith  was 
strong  and  steady.  lie  knew  how  to  live  and 
walk  by  faith.  In  this  respect  he  had  few  if  any 
equals.  Indeed,  he  seemed  to  have  been  specially 
appointed  by  divine  Providence  to  adorn  and  in- 
struct the  Church  respecting  a  life  of  faith.  He 
held  that  the  many  "  exceeding  great  and  pre- 
cious promises  "  of  God  were  not  only  to  be  ac- 
cepted as  true,  but  especially  to  be  trusted  in  all 
the  affairs  of  life. 

His  relation  to  the  ministry  was  helpful  almost 
beyond  comparison.  He  would  urge  his  young 
brethren  not  only  to  try  to  do  more  and  better 
work  for  the  Master,  but  he  would  show  them,  by 
precept  and  example,  how  it  could  be  done.  He 
had  the  courage  and  frankness  to  say,  many 
times,  to  the  careless  or  inexperienced,  "  You  fail 
here;  by  doing  thus  and  so  you  can  better  your 
sermons,  pastoral  work,  or  management."  !N"oth- 
ing  affecting  ministers  and  their  work  seemed  to 
escape  his  notice.  He  even  undertook  to  tell 
them  how  they  could  preserve  their  health,  how 
they  could  protect  themselves  in  their  long  and 
hard  winter  travels,  and  how  they  could  best 
economize  their  time  and  strength  so  as  to  do  the 


318  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS. 

most  work.  lie  always  urged  studiousness  and 
diligence.  While  giving  attention  to  these  de- 
tails, and  such  as  these,  on  the  human  side  of  a 
minister's  life  and  experience,  he  never  failed  to 
urge  the  necessity  of  being  divinely  called  and 
qualified  for  the  work. 

Next  after  the  strength  and  positiveness  of  the 
bishop's  character,  nothing  surprises  us  so  much 
as  the  degree  to  which  his  most  marked  charac- 
teristics were  complemented  and  guarded  by 
other  qualities.  Said  one  intimately  acquainted 
with  him,  and  himself  a  bishop,  "  I  have  looked 
upon  Bishop  Edwards  on  every  side.  He  is 
the  best  man  this  Church  ever  had.  It  has  never 
seen  his  like;  it  will  not  in  the  time  to  come." 
This  language  may  be  a  little  too  sweeping. 
Doubtless  many  will  so  regard  it.  But  after  mak- 
ing all  due  allowance  for  the  esteem  and  enthu- 
siasm of  a  warm-hearted  colleague,  there  remains 
in  this  noble  eulogy  the  just  recognition  of  a 
strong,  symmetrical  character,  and  a  well-guard- 
ed life.  "What  is  the  secret  of  this  surprising 
blending  of  various  and  seemingly  irreconcilable 
elements  of  character?  The  answer  can  not  be 
given  in  a  word,  nor  in  a  few  brief  sentences. 
The  story  of  his  life  and  labors,  taken  as  a  whole, 
can  alone  answer  the  question.  In  the  light  of 
all  the  facts  connected  with  this  story,  it  may  be 


LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  319 

easily  seen  that  Bishop  Edwards  never  fixed  his 
mind  and  heart  upon  a  few  theoretical  centers 
from  which  he  bhndly  pushed  out  to  the  different 
points  of  the  moral  compass.  True,  he  was  not 
without  well  -  defined  theories  which  he  could 
state  and  logically  defend  when  necessary;  but 
these  were  formed  and  modified  by  the  manifold 
teachings  of  the  Scriptures  and  the  facts  of 
human  life.  lie  did  not  seek  so  much  to  recon- 
<3ile  thought  with  thought  as  thought  with  facts. 
In  this  he  was  right.  Science,  philosophy,  and 
divinity,  alike  demand  this  practical  method.  It 
was  this  that  made  him  so  mighty  in  the  Script- 
ures. 

The  difiiculty  of  harmonizing  a  large  spiritual 
insight  into  the  nature  and  universality  of  God's 
kingdom  on  one  side,  with  the  tangible  demands 
of  actual  life,  and  the  divinely  established  claims 
of  the  visible  church  on  the  other  side,  was  beau- 
tifully solved  in  his  life  and  character.  Without 
his  afiluent  spiritual  nature  he  never  could  have 
been  the  "great  Christian"  that  he  was;  without 
his  appreciation  of  the  relation  of  things  as  seen 
in  the  common  affairs  of  life,  he  never  could 
have  become  eminent  as  a  Christian  bishop.  In 
a  word,  his  extraordinary  piety,  strong  common 
sense,  and  liberal  culture  made  him  one  of  the 
brightest  ornaments    of   the    Christian   church. 


820  LIFE    OF   BISHOP   EDWARDS.  ' 

These  elements  of  strength  and  beauty  rarely 
2neet  in  human  character;  but  in  him  they  were 
happily  combined,  and,  by  consequence,  placed 
liim  among  the  foremost  of  Christian  workers. 

lie  will  live  in  the  memory  of  the  Church  as  a 
wise  and  efficient  administrator.  His  knowledge 
of  men,  wisdom  and  ability  in  influencing  the 
action  of  others,  thorough  understanding  of  the 
genius  of  the  Church,  sympathy  with  its  spirit, 
and  full  belief  in  it  as  an  agency  providentially 
called  forth  and  divinely  acknowledged,  were 
each  and  all  elements  of  strength  which  entered 
into  his  qualification  for  the  work  required  at  his 
hands.  How  nobly  and  grandly  he  wrought  for 
the  Master,  in  the  use  of  these  gifts  and  graces, 
we  have  already  seen.  • 

But  it  is  especially  as  a  preacher  that  he  will 
be  remembered  by  the  multitudes  of  the  Church. 
It  was  in  this  character  that  they  met  and  heard 
him  and  received  their  impressions  of  his  power 
and  worth.  His  strong  imagination,  vivid  power 
of  description,  skill  in  drawing  from  the  Script- 
ures, fruitful  mind,  thorough  sj^stem,  direct  state- 
ment of  truth,  and  great  earnestness  were  the 
characteristics,  on  the  human  side,  on  which  his 
fame  rested.  But  on  the  divine  side,  his  reputa- 
tion appears  as  the  pure  and  free  gift  of  God.  He 
was  inflexibly  devoted  to  the  will  of  Heaven;  and 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP    EDWARDS.  321 

God  made  him  honored  by  giving  him  the  Holy 
Spirit  without  measure. 

The  sermons  which  he  loved  most  to  preach 
during  his  last  years  were  those  on  the  sayings  of 
Christ  on  the  cross  and  the  character  of  Elijah — 
the  former  adapted  especially  to  sacramental  oc- 
casions, and  the  latter  convenient  for  conferences, 
or  any  desired  use.  In  the  character  and  career  of 
Elijah  he  saw  realized  Ms  best  conceptions  of  a 
heroic  and  successful  life.  Hence  to  this  sublime 
theme  his  mind  naturally  turned,  especially  in  its 
more  lofty  moments.  In  using  the  sayings  of 
Christ  on  the  cross  he  was  especially  happy  and 
effective.  Here  be  found  that  which  awakens 
the  purest  and  tenderest  emotions  of  the  soul. 
In  the  use  of  these  sayings  the  Lord  signally 
blessed  him,  in  showing  that  man's  only  hope  of 
salvation  is  found  in  the  cross  of  Christt  But  he 
had  other  themes  upon  which  he  dwelt  with  elo- 
quence, pathos,  and  power,  seldom  equaled.  In- 
deed, it  may  be  said  that  he  never  entered  the 
pulpit  without  the  "beaten  oil,"  or  without  the 
"blood  in  the  basin."  The  gospel  which  he 
preached  was  a  gospel  of  life,  but  a  life  purchased 
by  the  death  of  Christ,  and  accompanied  by  a 
death  unto  sin. 

But  Bishop  Edwards  has  passed  from  life  to 
life;  and  now  nothing  remains  but  to  breathe  a 

21 


322  LIFE    OF   BISHOP    EDWARDS. 

prayer  that  these  pages  may  be  owned  and  blessed 
of  Him  who  has  said,  "The  righteous  shall  be  in 
everlasting  remembrance,"  and  that,  besides  help- 
ing to  commemorate  an  honored  name,  they  may 
be  of  some  use  in  perpetuating  and  enlarging  the 
influence  of  the  noble  life  which  it  has  been  the 
author'?  aim  faithfully  and  afiectionately  to  trace. 


